DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES Division of Public Health October 12, 2006

1. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES Division of Public Health October 12, 2006

2. Outline In Wisconsin, what can we expect in the next influenza pandemic? How can your business prepare?

3. IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY EPIDEMIC: Disease or condition with activity above what is typically seen in a given geographic area. Ex. Annual Influenza activity in Northern Hemisphere PANDEMIC: Disease activity in a large geographic area (worldwide?), usually for longer periods of time Ex. HIV, Obesity(?)

4. WHAT IS INFLUENZA? • A respiratory disease caused by influenza virus. • Abrupt onset of fever, cough, sore throat, chills, body aches. • Not typically associated with vomiting or diarrhea. • Typical incubation period 1–5 days (usually 1-3).

5. Pandemic Influenza “An influenza pandemic is unlike any other public health emergency or disaster”

6. SEASONAL VERSUS PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

7. 1999 1997 2000 2001 1998

8. 1999 1997 2000 2001 1998

9. INFLUENZA: SEASONAL IMPACT WISCONSIN Population ~5.4 million Outpatient Care 120,000-240,000 ~5%-20% Infected 270,000-1.1 million Deaths ~600-1000 Hospitalized 3,500-7,000

10. INFLUENZA: PANDEMIC IMPACT WISCONSIN Population ~5.4 million Outpatient Care 1.4 million ~35% Infected 1.9 million Deaths ~8500 Hospitalized 27,500

11. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE NEXT PANDEMIC? • Absenteeism ( up to 30-40%) • Employee illness & family members • Death • Fear • Shortages of materials • Possible closures (hopefully short term) • Financial Issues

12. PUBLIC HEALTH INFECTION CONTROL STRATEGIES • Personal Hygiene • Hand washing • Respiratory etiquette • Stay home when sick • Social distancing and limiting access • Public gatherings and events cancelled • Public places closed • Restricted or suspended travel • Isolation/Quarantine

13. HOW CAN YOUR BUSINESS PREPARE FOR A PANDEMIC? • Education of employees • Communicating with employees during a pandemic

14. HOW CAN YOUR BUSINESS PREPARE FOR A PANDEMIC? • Plan to keep operating with only 60% staff • Don’t plan to close!!

15. BUSINESS PLANNING • Plan how to keep operating with only 60% staff • Establish policies for flexible worksite (e.g. telecommuting) • Flexible work hours (e.g. staggered shifts). • Retraining or cross-training • Reduce or combine services

16. BUSINESS PLANNING • Communicating with employees during a pandemic • Plan for communicating with vendors, suppliers, and customers inside and outside the worksite

17. BUSINESS PLANNING • Communicating with employees during a pandemic • Anticipate employee fear and anxiety, rumors and misinformation

18. WHAT WE DON’T KNOW… • We do not know when the next pandemic it will occur • We do not know how severe the next pandemic will be

19. WHAT WE KNOW….. • An influenza pandemic is likely to occur at some time in our life • An influenza pandemic will result in increased illness and increased deaths • Need to prepare for increased absenteeism • Need to prepare now for what we know will occur and be prepared to make intelligent decisions when faced with the unexpected!!

20. INFLUENZA PANDEMIC RESOURCES • www.PandemicFlu.gov • Official U.S. Government Web site on pandemic influenza and avian influenza • www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic • Centers for Disease Control Pandemic Influenza Info. • www.pandemic.wisconsin.gov

21. Thomas Haupt M.S. Respiratory Disease Epidemiologist Wisconsin Division of Public Health 608-266-5326 hauptte@dhfs.state.wi.us