Preparing for Pandemic Influenza

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Preparing for Pandemic Influenza

• Pandemic Preparedness Symposium for Businesses

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Outline

• What is influenza (flu)?
• What is avian influenza?
• What is pandemic influenza?
• What can expect in the next pandemic?
• How can your business prepare?

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1. What is Influenza (Flu)?

• Influenza is respiratory disease or infection
  caused by a virus

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Influenza Transmission

• Influenza is spread from person to person through
  respiratory droplets caused by coughing or
  sneezing
• Individuals can also become infected by touching
  something with influenza virus on it

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Seasonal Influenza

• In the United States, seasonal influenza is
  responsible for
• Deaths 36,000
• Hospitalizations gt200,000
• 37.5 billion in economic costs from influenza
  and pneumonia

Average annual estimates during the 1990s
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Seasonal Influenza

• Northern Hemisphere
• Begins in November or December
• Usually, peaks in late January

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At-risk Groups

• Persons 65 and older
• Persons with chronic diseases
• Infants
• Pregnant women
• Nursing home residents

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2. What is Avian Influenza?

• Many types of influenza virus occur naturally
  among wild birds.
• Some avian influenza viruses make wild and
  domesticated birds very sick.

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Avian Influenza

• Human cases of the current strain of avian
  influenza (H5N1) have been documented since 1997
• Human infection has primarily been the result of
  contact with infected poultry.

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Avian Influenza

• The H5N1 virus has potential to cause the next
  human pandemic
• Has killed millions of birds in Asia, Africa and
  Europe
• Is spreading by migratory birds
• Has spread from birds to mammals
• Continues to evolve

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Generation of a Pandemic Influenza Virus
Avian (Goose) Virus
Domestic Bird Virus
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Generation of a Pandemic Influenza Virus
Domestic Bird Virus
Humans
Pig Virus
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Nations With Confirmed Cases H5N1 Avian
Influenza (July 7, 2006)
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3. What is Pandemic Influenza?

• A global epidemic of a newly emerged strain of
  flu
• Easily transmitted from human to human
• Very limited immunity

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Phases of a Pandemic
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Key Differences Between Seasonal Pandemic
Influenza
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Average Percent Ill Per Week
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Issues for today and tomorrow

• Challenges
• Increased global travel and commerce
• Greater population density
• More elderly and immunosuppressed
• More daycares and nursing homes
• Many unknowns related to pandemics

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Issues for today and tomorrow

• Opportunities
• Expanded global and national surveillance
• Better healthcare, medicines, diagnostics
• Greater vaccine manufacturing capacity

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4. What can we expect in the next pandemic?

• Illness will spread
• Quickly
• Globally
• Health care system will be overwhelmed
• Vaccine
• Non-existent or
• Limited for 6 to 8 months
• Antivirals
• Limited and/or
• Non-effective

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What can we expect in the next pandemic?

• Alternate facilities will be needed to
• Triage ill
• Provide supportive care
• Temporarily store bodies
• Significant disruptions of critical
  infrastructure
• Limited emergency service personnel

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What can we expect in the next pandemic?

• Business Impact
• Absenteeism (30-40)
• Employee illness family members
• Death
• Fear
• Shortages of materials
• Possible closures
• Financial Issues

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Planning is Critical

• Goals
• Limit morbidity and mortality
• Maintain essential services
• Minimize social disruption and economic loss

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Wisconsins Preparedness Plans

• Department of Health and Family Services and
  partners designed a pandemic influenza plan to
• Identify and help control the spread of a
  pandemic influenza virus
• Continued surveillance, infection control and
  assuring sufficient medical services
• Defined role of state and local government

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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 (Snow
  days)
• Public places closed
• Restricted or suspended travel
• Isolation/Quarantine

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How can your business prepare?

• Education of employees
• Plan how to keep operating with only 60
• Communicating with employees during a pandemic

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Business Planning

• Education of Employees
• Limit the spread of germs prevent infection
• Wash hands frequently
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Stay home from work and school if sick
• Leave policies
• Sick-leave absences unique to a pandemic
• Non-punitive, liberal leave

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Business Planning

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

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Business Planning

• Communicating with employees during a pandemic
• Anticipate employee fear and anxiety, rumors and
  misinformation
• Plan for communicating with vendors, suppliers,
  and customers inside and outside the worksite

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HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt

• A pandemic would likely be happening in 5000
  communities at the same time. Any community that
  fails to prepare for a pandemic with the
  expectation that the federal government somehow
  will come to their rescue will be tragically
  disappointed.

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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.dhfs.wisconsin.gov/preparedness/EmergencyPlans
  
• Wisconsin Pandemic Influenza Plan