Pandemic Flu ‘The Bigger Picture’ Response!

1. Pandemic Flu‘The Bigger Picture’Response! Shayne Ward Emergency Planning Officer NHS Lincolnshire

2. Presentation Overview • Pandemic Flu – dispelling the myths! • Seasonal vs. Pandemic • Vaccines, Antivirals and Antibiotics • Bird Swine vs Human Influenza • Activation & Predicted Impact • Current International & National Levels • Activation vs. Response • Predicted Impact • The wider impacts of Pandemic Flu

3. ‘SEASONAL’ FLU Occurs every year during the winter Affects up to 10% - 15% of the population The very young, the very old and people with certain chronic illness are most at risk Annual vaccination available Antiviral drugs available for the at risk Seasonal ‘flu vs Pandemic ‘flu PANDEMIC FLU • Occurs about 3 times each century – at any time of the year • May affect up to 50% of the population • People of every age may be at risk (Currently, its mainly 10-19 Year Olds and younger) • Vaccine won’t be available initially - in the first wave (Hope to start production Autumn 2009) • Antiviral drugs available for up to 50% of the population (80%)

4. Previous ‘flu Pandemics • Pandemic Spanish Flu Asian Flu Hong Kong Flu • Strain: A(H1N1) A(H2H2) A(H3N2) • Year: 1918-1919 1957-1958 1968-1969 • Origin: Not known China China • Estimated Deaths • Global 20-40 million 1million 1-4 million • UK 250,000 33,000 30,000 • Age Group 20-50 yrs under 14 yrs under 5 yrs • over 65 yrs over 65 yrs Swine Flu 2009 A(H1N1) Shortest interval= 11 years Longest interval= 39 years Current interval = 40 years

5. Vaccines, Antivirals and AntibioticsNot Silver Bullet Solutions! • Vaccines • Offer protection against a ‘specific’ strain • Up to 4-6 months to develop specific vaccine • Longer to manufacturer in sufficient quantities • Pre-pandemic vaccines – may offer Health Care Workers some protection but will not be exact ‘fit’ of pandemic strain (not applicable isn’t a strain of H5N1!) • Antivirals • Is a counter-measure rather than protection • Reduces length of infection • Reduces severity and therefore secondary infections • Antibiotics • For counteracting secondary bacterial infections e.g. affecting lungs and heart

6. From Birds to Humans followed by re-assortment in Humans H5N1 MIGRATORY WATER BIRDS DOMESTIC BIRDS Source: Respiratory Diseases Department Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London

7. From Birds to Humans followed by re-assortment in Humans H1N1 MIGRATORY WATER BIRDS DOMESTIC PIGS! Source: Respiratory Diseases Department Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London

8. Pandemic FluActivation

9. INTERNATIONAL ACTIVATION International • Six distinct phases have been defined by the World Health Organization to help global preparedness planning: Inter-pandemic Period – new virus in animals, no human cases • Phase 1  Low risk of human casesPhase 2  Higher risk of human cases Pandemic Alert Period • Phase 3  No, or very limited, human-to-human transmissionPhase 4  Evidence of increased human-to-human transmissionPhase 5  Evidence of significant human-to-human transmission Pandemic Period • Phase 6  Efficient and sustained human-to-human transmission We are currently at WHO Phase 6

10. NATIONAL ACTIVATION United Kingdom • When the international situation reaches WHO Phase 6 there will be 4 alert levels in the UK: • UK alert level 1 No cases in the UK • UK alert level 2 Virus isolated in the UK • UK alert level 3 Outbreak(s) in the UK • UK alert level 4 Widespread activity cross the UK

11. Still in ‘Containment’ Phase • This is before there is sustained community transmission, • symptomatic individuals will contact NHS Direct, NHS Choices or CALL their GP if they have symptoms. • Following an assessment of symptoms, the GP will contact their Regional Flu Response Centre for advice and support about swabbing and for access to an antiviral in line with the HPA algorithm for suspected swine flu cases. Swabbing Teams will be deployed within the East Midlands Regions with PPE and Antivirals • The PCTs are • Support at the FRC, clinical & admin • LCHS Swab Teams with kits/PPE/Antivirals • Setting up Antiviral Distribution system and ACPs • Preparing staff and reviewing BCPs • Local Flu Line Solutions (currently info line)

12. Local Response Strategy Mitigation Response The basis of a large scale response strategy will be • that the person with flu stays at home • antivirals are collected on their behalf from a designated local Antiviral Collection Point by a ‘flu friend’1. • Antivirals will only be issued if the patient fulfils the criteria set out in a clinical algorithm which will be available for flu friends to complete on patients’ behalf at ACPs, • and which may be also be available for completion by patients themselves either on-line or by telephone • UNDER 1’S & PATIENTS WITH CO-EXISTING CONDITIONS SEEN BY GPs/HCPs • Plan for accessing antivirals for Care Homes • <15 residents use Flu Line • >15 residents – Health Professional / delivery arrangements

13. SOCIAL CARE NATIONAL ACTIVATION

14. The National Service Framework Objectives of the National Flu Service Framework • to ensure that the right people get the right treatment at the right time, whilst enabling people who have flu to stay at home ; and to minimise the impact of influenza on the NHS.

15. Pandemic Flu Predicted Impact

16. PAN FLU – SURGE CAPACITY & PRIORITISATION STAGES 3

17. Predicted Impact in Lincolnshire, based on a population of 750,000, 50% Attack Rate

18. What are the solutions? • Resilience • Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) embedded into your organisation – no matter how small • Regularly updated and tested continuity plans • Plan for accessing antivirals • <15 residents use Flu Line • >15 residents – Health Professional / delivery arrangements • Infection Control • Stay at home & isolate yourself where possible • Contact the National Flu Line • Infection control methods and PPE • Masks – Only useful if within 1 metre of a possibly symptomatic patient. (Aerosols generated) – see Social Care Guidance

19. Infection Control & PPE Emma Lee, NHS Lincolnshire