Pandemic Influenza Planning and Preparedness in Contra Costa County

1. Pandemic Influenza Planning and Preparedness in Contra Costa County

2. Special thanks to the following for the use of their slides: Howard Backer, MD Chief, Immunization Branch, California Department of Health Services Michael T Osterholm PhD, MPH Director, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and Associate Director, DHS National Center for Food Protection

3. Overview • The difference between: • Seasonal influenza • Avian influenza • Pandemic influenza • What you can do to get prepared

4. A Modern World View of Pandemic Influenza The Truth

5. Seasonal Influenza • Respiratory illness characterized by fever, headache, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, etc. • Complications occur mostly among “high risk” including those with congestive heart disease, asthma and diabetes

6. Seasonal Influenza • High infectivity • Short incubation period • Clinical illness is non-specific • Easily transmitted Routes of transmission • Large droplets (sneezing, coughing, contact with saliva) • Fomites: doorknobs, Kleenex, etc. • Rarely airborne over long distance

9. Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) is an infectious disease of birds

10. The disease occurs worldwide. Many wild bird species carry these viruses with no apparent signs of harm.

12. Other bird species, including domestic poultry, develop disease when infected with avian influenza viruses.

14. Avian influenza in poultry has a mortality rate that can approach 100% within 48 hours. Approximately 150 million birds have been culled (destroyed).

15. Avian Flu and People As of October 12, 2007, 331 people in 12 countries have been infected with H5N1 (avian influenza) and 202 have died of the disease. Most were infected by close contact with infected birds.

16. How could avian flu become easily transmissible from person to person?

17. If an avian virus and human-adapted virus “swap genes” in a co-infected cell of an animal or human, a “third virus” would result that could be readily transmitted by and between humans.

18. DIRECT Mechanisms of Influenza Virus Antigenic “Shift” Non-human virus Human virus Reassortant virus

19. Definition of an Influenza Pandemic: • a new (novel) influenza virus subtype in humans causing serious illness; • little or no immunity in the population; and, • it spreads easily from person to person.

20. Pandemic influenza is different from the current avian influenza. Influenza pandemics are recurring events.

21. Influenza Pandemics in the 20th Century Years Flu Virus Mortality 1918-1919 “Spanish” Type A (H1N1) 20 million worldwide 550,000 US 1957-1958 “Asian” Type A (H2N2) 70,000 US 1968-1969 “Hong Kong” Type A (H3N2) 34,000 US Glezen WP. Epidemiol Rev. 1996;18:65.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza Prevention and Control. Influenza. Available at:http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluinfo.htm.

22. Pandemic Severity Index

23. Planning Assumptions: Contra Costa County Total Over 18 months

24. Things you can do this flu season: • Promote hand washing and respiratory etiquette (cover your cough) • Provide hand sanitizers at work stations • Provide gloves to money handlers • Get a flu shot • Clean shared equipment such as phones and keyboards regularly • Contact Health Services about becoming a Point of Dispensing Push site

25. Our website cchealth.org contains information about pandemic flu preparedness including a Tool Kit for schools and childcare centers and checklists for business, law enforcement, etc.

26. For up-to-date health emergency information in Contra Costa call: 1-888-959-9911 Thank You!