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PREPARING FOR AN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC

PREPARING FOR AN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC. What is an Influenza Pandemic. Pandemic – a rapid spread of a severe human disease that occurs world-wide and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population.

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PREPARING FOR AN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC

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  1. PREPARING FOR AN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  2. What is an Influenza Pandemic • Pandemic – a rapid spread of a severe human disease that occurs world-wide and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. • Influenza – refers to a family of highly contagious viruses that cause illness by attacking the respiratory tract pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  3. Why Talk About This Now? • Health officials warn of the potential for an influenza pandemic • Based on historical knowledge of past pandemics and • Concern about the possibility of a new strain of human influenza that we have no natural immunity against pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  4. Why talk about this now, cont’d • Economists warn of the potential impact of pandemic influenza on individual businesses and on the economy worldwide • Pandemic preparation is an important business issue pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  5. Previous Influenza Pandemics in the 20th Century • 1918: “Spanish Flu” 40-50 million deaths • 1957: “Asian Flu” 1 million deaths • 1968: “Hong Kong Flu” 1 million deaths pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  6. Pandemic Influenza vs Seasonal Influenza • Pandemic influenza is different from regular seasonal influenza (flu) pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  7. Seasonal Influenza • Seasonal influenza (flu) is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  8. Seasonal Influenza • Affects 5-20% of the population • Occurs every year in winter • Causes 4000 deaths in Canada, ½ - 1 million worldwide • Most people recover • Deaths usually occur in high risk groups • Vaccine effective pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  9. Pandemic Influenza • Occurs when a new strain of an influenza virus develops to which people have little or no immunity • Spreads easily from person to person and many people around the world will become sick and possibly die pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  10. Pandemic Influenza • Occurs 3-4x/century, any season • Affects 25% or more of the population • May cause 30-50,000 deaths in Canada, 40 million worldwide • More severe illness • Deaths may hit all age groups • No vaccine for up to 4-6 months • Antivirals limited, effectiveness unclear pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  11. Pandemic Influenza • Spreads rapidly • Occurs in waves, approximately 3-9 months apart • First wave will last approximately 4-6 weeks • 2nd and 3rd wave may be more severe • May occur over a 1-2 year period pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  12. Pandemic Influenza - Symptoms • Headache, chills, cough • Fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation • Vomiting and diarrhea may occur, especially in children pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  13. Pandemic Influenza - Spread • Spread through droplets that have been coughed or sneezed into the air by someone who is infected • Can spread for up to 24 hrs before onset of symptoms • And can still infect others for 3-5 days after getting sick pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  14. You can get it by • Breathing in the droplets through your nose or mouth or if they land on your eyes • Shaking hands with infected people and then touching your nose, eyes or mouth • Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your nose, eyes or mouth pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  15. What You Can Do • Improve your overall health • Consider getting an annual flu shot • Wash hands regularly with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol based wipes Before and after eating After going to the bathroom After coughing and sneezing After shaking hands After touching surfaces that may be contaminated pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  16. What you can also do • Cough and sneeze into tissue or your sleeve to avoid droplet spread • Throw away tissues promptly • Frequently clean and disinfect household and work space surfaces • Stay at home when sick • Avoid visiting people who have influenza if you can pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  17. And…. • Don’t share eating utensils or drinks • Refrain from putting out unwrapped candy/snacks in the office • Encourage family, friends, and colleagues to follow these practices pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  18. Pandemic Influenza – Vaccine/antivirals • Use and distribution will be determined by public health officials • Vaccine will take approximately 4-6 months to prepare once the strain has been identified • Work on a national strategy for antiviral use is ongoing pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  19. Pandemic Influenza – Impact on Business • High absenteeism • Employees may die • Travel may be restricted • Supply chains may be interrupted • Fewer customers • Financial losses/business failures • Unemployment may occur pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  20. Pandemic Influenza – Impact on Health Care System • Health services may be overwhelmed • About 2-5 million may need outpatient care • About 34,000 to 138,000 needing hospitalization • About 11,000 to 58,000 deaths • Costs: about $330million to $1.4 billion pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  21. Pandemic Influenza – Social Effects • Fear of close proximity to people • Stress due to dealing with illness, deaths, quarantine, loss of employment, financial loss • Possible closures of public venues, schools • Interruption of critical community services • Estimated costs (loss of productivity) $5-38 billion pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  22. When will we know it’s here? • The World Health Organization (WHO) will officially declare a pandemic influenza outbreak • Federal and Provincial/Territorial Public Health Officials will issue advisories pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

  23. So…Be Prepared • Plan for yourself and your family • Be aware of pandemic influenza plans in your workplace pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring 2006

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