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Summit on Avian Influenza Presented by: NJ Department of Health & Senior Services

Summit on Avian Influenza Presented by: NJ Department of Health & Senior Services. August 31, 2006. Seasonal Flu. Influenza Pandemic. Avian Influenza. Overview. FLU FACTS: To understand the difference between the terms seasonal, avian and pandemic influenza, and the impact of a pandemic

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Summit on Avian Influenza Presented by: NJ Department of Health & Senior Services

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  1. Summit on Avian InfluenzaPresented by: NJ Department of Health & Senior Services August 31, 2006

  2. Seasonal Flu Influenza Pandemic Avian Influenza

  3. Overview • FLU FACTS: To understand the difference between the terms seasonal, avian and pandemic influenza, and the impact of a pandemic • FLU PREP: To identify ways that NJ is preparing for an influenza pandemic • FLU & YOU: To identify steps people can take to protect themselves

  4. What is Influenza? • Primarily infection of upper respiratory tract • Incubation period: 1-3 days • Infectious period: 24 hours before symptom onset and up to 5 days after symptom onset

  5. What causes Influenza?Three types of influenza viruses: A, B & C • Type A • Can infect humans and other animals • 144 potential strains (H-16; N-9) • Wild birds are the natural reservoir • Most likely to cause epidemics and pandemics (cont.)

  6. Types of Influenza • Type B • Humans only • No subtypes • Can cause epidemics, not pandemics • Type C • Humans and swine • No subtypes • Mild illness; does not cause epidemics

  7. Seasonal Influenza in the US • Occurs annually – October through April • More than 36,000 deaths • More than 200,000 hospitalizations • Elderly, young children and people with certain health conditions are most vulnerable • Largely preventable through vaccine

  8. Prevention & Treatment • Prevention • Annual flu vaccination • Respiratory hygiene • Social distancing • Treatment • Fluids, fever reducing medication, bed rest • Antiviral medication – not a cure!

  9. Why a flu shot each year? • Drift (Types A and B) • Minor change, within subtype • Gradual accumulation of amino acid changes in HA and/or NA • May cause epidemic • Example: drifted A/H3N2/Fujian circulated A/H3N2/Panama (vaccine strain 2003/4) Occurs continuously • Shift (Type A only) • Major changes new subtype • Exchange of gene segments • May cause pandemic • Example: H3N2 replaced H2N2 in 1968 Occurs infrequently Cox NJ, Subbarao K. Lancet 1999;354:1277-82

  10. What about Avian Influenza? • AKA: Bird Flu • Type A, H5N1 • Carried by migratory waterfowl • Virus passed to domestic poultry • Direct transmission to humans from poultry • High death rate

  11. What is a pandemic? • Epidemic = community or regional outbreak of an infectious disease • Pandemic = global epidemic

  12. What causes a Flu Pandemic? • New strain of virus • Ability to cause serious disease and death in humans • Easy person-to-person spread

  13. Pandemic Impact

  14. Challenges • Health Care • Social • Personal

  15. Health Care Challenges • Don’t know which people the virus will affect the most • Vaccines will not be available in the early stages of pandemic • Antivirals, if available, may be ineffective • Health care workforce will be sick along with everyone else • Health care system will be overwhelmed

  16. Societal Challenges • Maintaining essential government services and business • Implementing social distancing • Distributing limited amounts of medications and vaccines • Maintaining civil order

  17. Personal Challenges • Protecting self and family • Attending school/work • Obtaining goods, services and necessities • Maintaining daily life activities • Obtaining medical care • Traveling • Obtaining reliable information

  18. Worldwide Watch

  19. Governmental Preparedness • The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the US Dept. of Human Services • NJ Dept. of Health & Senior Services and the Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness • Local and regional health depts. • www.njmrc.nj.gov

  20. Healthcare System Preparedness • Developing preparedness plans • Enhancing infection control procedures • Stockpiling supplies • Cross training staff • Conducting exercises

  21. Personal Preparedness • Keep a supply of food, water and medical supplies • Start now to develop healthy habits • Respiratory hygiene • Hand hygiene • Stay home if sick • Know where to get reliable health information • Follow instructions provided by governmental public health authorities

  22. Summary • Flu pandemics are unpredictable • We don’t know if the avian H5N1 virus will cause the next flu pandemic • Flu pandemics can have serious impact on us, society, businesses and the health care system • NJ governmental agencies are preparing for a potential flu pandemic

  23. Resources • NJ Dept. of Health & Senior Services • www.nj.gov/health/flu • Ready Together NJ • US Centers for Disease Control • www.cdc.gov/flu • www.pandemicflu.gov • Planning Checklists: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/checklists.html

  24. Contact Information Sylvia H. Bookbinder, MPH, CHES Infectious & Zoonotic Disease Program New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services 609-588-7500 Sylvia.Bookbinder@doh.state.nj.us

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