Pandemic Influenza Preparedness

1
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness

• All Indian Pueblo Council
• Pueblo Health Committee
• New Mexico Dept of Health
• Epidemiology and Response Division Office of
  Health Emergency Management
• June, 2006

2
Overview

• Avian or Bird Flu
• Pandemic Preparedness Planning in NM
• Point of Dispensing Sites

3
What is Avian Influenza?

• Avian or bird flu is a type of influenza that
  infects birds.
• Influenza viruses occur naturally among birds
• Avian flu is very contagious among birds and can
  make domestic birds e.g. chickens, turkeys, and
  ducks sick, and even kill them
• H5N1 avian influenza or bird flu (now in the
  news) is NOT pandemic flu

4
What is pandemic influenza?

• A pandemic occurs when there is a widespread or
  world wide outbreak of disease
• An influenza pandemic or pandemic flu is caused
  when a new virus appears that people have not
  been exposed to before

5
Seasonal vs. Pandemic influenza

• Caused by existing flu virus
• Healthy adults usually not at risk
• Modest impact to society
• Approximately 36,000 deaths in US each year

• Caused by a new flu virus
• Healthy adults at increased risk due to little or
  no immunity
• Could lead to high levels of illness, death,
  social disruption and economic loss

6
Why should we prepare?

• Influenza outbreaks among humans are annual
  events
• A pandemic could occur if a new strain of
  influenza is introduced
• A new strain of influenza could pass easily from
  person to person
• Local community preparedness can mitigate some of
  the severe effects of a pandemic on individuals,
  families communities

7

• The pandemic clock is ticking, we just dont
  know what time it is
• E. Marcuse

8
Where are we now?

• Human cases of H5N1 avian flu are very rare,
  occurring mainly in Asia where people live close
  to domestic poultry
• Human to human transmission of bird flu is rare,
  where it may have occurred , did not spread
  beyond immediate family
• Currently, there is no H5N1 virus in the United
  States
• New Mexico is on the Central Flyway for migrating
  waterfowl

• World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for
  Disease Control (CDC) are closely monitoring the
  avian flu
• US Fish and Wildlife is monitoring migratory
  birds in Alaska
• NM Game and Fish is monitoring the Sandhill
  Cranes

9
Eagles and Turkeys

• Eagles and turkeys are not migratory but
  susceptible to the avian flu virus
• Caution should be taken when gathering eagles
  from the wild
• US Fish Wildlife repository tests eagles for
  flu before sending them to Native Americans

10
Pandemic Preparedness in NM

• NMDOH received 956,824 from CDC to engage in
  statewide pandemic preparedness planning
• Tribes will each receive 8,000 for planning
• Tribes must sign an MOA with the State to receive
  funds
• Tribes must be listed as a current vendor with
  the State

11
Pandemic Preparedness in NM

• County Emergency Managers are the leads for
  pandemic preparedness planning in each county
• Tribes must identify who will coordinate tribal
  pandemic response planning with County Emergency
  Managers
• Counties will sign an MOA with the State that
  obligates them to work closely with the Tribes
• Tribal emergency managers IHS are partners in
  State- level Unified Command of agencies
  coordinating pandemic planning (others NM
  DPS/OEM, NMDOH, NM Emergency Managers
  Association)

12
Point of Dispensing Sites

• Point of Dispensing Sites or PODS can be used for
  giving mass vaccinations in the event of public
  health emergencies
• PODS are not permanent locations and must be
  separate from hospitals
• It is the States responsibility to establish
  PODS in consultation with the tribes
• Currently, the State has established 87 POD sites
• Tribes have the option to set up PODs on tribal
  land

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Requirements for PODS

• Building that is accessible to the public with
• adequate parking
• phone lines
• Internet access (preferred)
• Assurance of security for medication, facility
  personnel
• Design plan for service flow throughout
  facility
• Operated primarily by members of your community

14
Factors to consider

• States and Tribes largely will be on their own to
  prepare for and respond if a pandemic occurs
• Indian Health Service will be overwhelmed with
  the demand for services in their own facilities
• There may be very high levels of illness and
  death
• Vaccine may not be available for up to 6 months
  after initial outbreak
• There will not be enough vaccine for everyone

15
Additional Resources

• www.pandemicflu.gov
• www.nmbirdflu.org/
• www.health.state.nm.us/ohem/
• NM Dept Health, Infec. Disease Epi
  505-827-0006
• NM Game Fish 505-476-8000
• Joe Baca, Native American Planner
• NMDOH, Epidemiology Response Division
• Office of Health Emergency Management
• 505-476-7873
• joe.baca_at_state.nm.us