MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES

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MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES
Preparing for Pandemic Flu
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What is Pandemic Influenza?
Pandemic - means a global outbreak of a new
disease to which humans have no immunity. In
1918-1919, a global pandemic of Spanish Flu
killed about 50 million people worldwide.
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ARE WE PAST DUE FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC?

• Had 3 serious flu pandemics during 20th century
• 1918, 1957, 1968
• They tend to occur in cycles.
• There has been no major pandemic in many years.
• Yes, experts believe
• we are due for another
• pandemic.

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Influenza (Flu) Pandemic

• Could affect you, your family and neighbors
• Could make millions of people around the world
  sick, and even die
• Experts believe that another flu pandemic will
  strike sometime in the future

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What can you do to prepare?

• Learn more about influenza
• Plan how to respond to the next major flu
  pandemic
• Protect against this serious threat

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How does Seasonal Flu differ from Pandemic Flu?

• ?Seasonal flu
• Occurs annually and is caused by influenza virus
• strikes in the fall and winter
• usually less severe than pandemic flu because
  many people may have developed some immunity
• Vaccines developed based on known flu strains and
  available annually

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• ? Pandemic Flu
• No previous exposure, little or no pre-existing
  immunity
• Flu shots will not be available at first
• It may take 4 to 6 months or longer to prepare a
  flu shot for this virus

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• There is no pandemic influenza anywhere in the
  world right now.

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Seasonal Flu Symptoms

• Cough
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Muscle aches

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Pandemic Flu Symptoms

• Similar to seasonal but can be more severe.
  Might also include
• Eye infections and light sensitivity
• Increase in life-threatening complications like
  pneumonia or acute respiratory disease
• Diarrhea

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How is the flu virus spread?

• The flu virus spreads when people cough or
  sneeze.
• Droplets spray into the air, and then into the
  face of people nearby.

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• Droplets also contaminate surfaces people touch.
• Infected people can leave the virus on surfaces
  they touch.

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How do you treat pandemic flu?

• Treat similar to seasonal flu
• Stay home to avoid spreading it to others
• Drink lots of fluids
• Get plenty of rest
• Take pain relievers for
• fever/muscle aches
• Take antiviral meds if
• your Dr. believes it is needed.

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What is Avian Flu? Should we be concerned?

• Also known as bird flu or H5N1.
• Primarily found in certain types of birds.
• In its current form, H5N1 virus does not
• pass easily from birds to humans
• When rare cases of human infection with
• H5N1 virus occur, the virus does not
• pass easily from human to human.

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HOWEVER -

• H5N1 could change into a type of virus that
  easily spreads from person to person.
• If so, a worldwide flu pandemic could result.

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What is the potential impact of a flu pandemic?

• An estimated 1/3 of the worlds population could
  become ill.
• Many more would have to stay home to care for
  them.
• Hospitals could become overwhelmed.
• Supply chains could be reduced leading to
  shortages of food, medicine, etc..

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Services Potentially Affected by Pandemic Flu

• Banks
• Stores
• Restaurants
• Utilities
• Police
• Fire and EMS
• Agriculture

• Medical care
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Day care
• Transportation
• Communications
• Schools

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• WHO IS PREPARING FOR THE
• NEXT PANDEMIC?
• Government agencies
• Missouri Dept. of Health S.S.
• Local public health depts.
• Hospitals
• Many other MO organizations and groups

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What are federal, state and local governments
doing to prepare?

• Federal government
• Stockpile medications and supplies
• Research new vaccines
• Monitor and respond quickly to virus outbreaks
• Help state and local authorities develop pandemic
  response plans
• Establish public health guidelines

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• State and Local Public Health Agencies
• Developing/updating pandemic plans
• Developing mass immunization plans
• Involving essential community services in their
  plans
• Testing plans through exercises

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What can you do to prepare?

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Step 1 Create a Plan

• Know how to reach your family members
• Be sure you consider
• If you have a child in school or day care
• What to do about your job
• If you have special needs or care for someone who
  does

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Step 2 Prepare Supplies

• Have at least a 3-day supply of basic items.
• Include supplies that will help you survive at
  home on your own.
• A wave of influenza may run as long as 6 to 8
  weeks.

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Supplies

• Water at least 1 gallon per person per day
• Canned or dried food
• Prescription medicine
• Non-aspirin pain reliever
• Thermometer

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Extra Supplies

• Household cleaning supplies
• Extra soap
• Battery powered radio
• Manual can opener
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit

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If you have special needs, your supplies should
include

• A listing of
• Medicines
• Allergies
• Other medical conditions
• Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries
• Extra wheelchair batteries or other special
  equipment
• A list of the brand/style and serial numbers of
  medical devices

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special needs supplies should also include

• Copies of medical insurance, Medicare and
  Medicaid cards
• A list of
• doctors
• Emergency contacts and family
• Phone numbers of close neighbors who can help

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Step 3 Be Active in Preparing Your Neighborhood
and Community

• Learn about pandemic flu.
• Be a leader in your neighborhood in making plans.
• Talk to neighbors who may need help.
• Discuss preparations at community groups.

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TAKE A CERT CLASS
Community Emergency Response Team

• Designed to prepare a community for a major
  disaster
• Prepares people to help their families
  neighbors safely effectively
• Is about being prepared
• Preparedness is the key to surviving
• the aftermath of disaster!

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• Learn about
• Disaster Preparedness
• Fire Suppression
• Medical Operations
• Search Rescue
• Disaster Psychology Team Organization
• Terrorism CERT
• Take part in a disaster simulation exercise
• To register, call Perry Co. Health Dept.
• at 547-6564

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Practice Good Hand Washing

• After coughing, sneezing,
• or blowing your nose
• Before and after helping a sick person
• Before and after food preparation
• Before serving or eating food
• After using the restroom or changing diapers
• After touching animals
• After cleaning the bathroom or handling trash

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To Wash Your Hands Well

• Wet hands with warm water
• Lather with soap and scrub all surfaces for 15-20
  seconds.
• Rinse thoroughly and dry with clean towel.
• Use paper towel to turn off faucet and open door.
• Alcohol-based rubs may be used if hands are not
  soiled.

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Practice Cough and Sneeze Protection

• When coughing or sneezing
• Move and/or turn away from others.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or paper
  towel and then throw it away.
• If you do not have a tissue, use the crook of
  your elbow or your sleeve do not use your hand.
• After coughing or sneezing, always wash your
  hands with soap and warm water.

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Cleaning and Disinfecting

• Prevent spreading germs
• Disinfect countertops, sinks, doorknobs, tables
  and telephones on a regular basis.
• Never share personal items, such as toothbrushes,
  drinking cups, and cosmetics.

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Listen for Information

• The word of an oncoming flu pandemic
• will be spread through your local media.
• You will receive important information on
• Actions to take to protect yourself from the
  disease
• The flu in your area
• services available to you
• symptoms to look out for, and
• what to do if these symptoms
• appear

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Examples of steps that authorities may ask the
public to follow

• Practice good hygiene, such as frequent hand
  washing, and covering sneezes and coughs.
• Stay home from work or school if ill with the
  flu.
• Avoid public gatherings, and cancel large events.
• Instructions on where to go for vaccine, when it
  becomes available.

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Public health authorities are reliable sources of
information. They will

• Work closely with news media to send important
  information to the public.
• Post up-to-date information on their websites
• In case of an outbreak, open up a hotline to
  answer questions about the situation.

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Flu Vaccines

• Flu shots are a safe and effective way to reduce
  the risk of seasonal flu.
• However, current flu shots will not protect
  against a pandemic flu virus.
• Once a pandemic virus is recognized, scientists
  can begin creating a matching vaccine, but this
  process will take months.

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Call to ActionCommunities pull together and grow
stronger during difficult times. We all can find
strength by ? Drawing closer to our
friends and neighbors? Being informed ?
Staying prepared for emergencies.
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Together we can be prepared and save lives.
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For additional information

• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
  
• www.dhss.mo.gov
• (Click on Pandemic Influenza)
• 1-800-392-0272
• -or-
• Perry County Health Department
• [phone]