Pandemic Flu Response Plan

1
Pandemic Flu Response Plan

• HDSB Regional Plan
• 2006

2
Background

• Outlines historical context
• Potential impact on workplace
• Information about national and local contingency
  planning
• Method used to develop our plan
• Legal basis for response
• What is Influenza? Symptoms communicable period

3
Differences between Seasonal Pandemic Flu

• Seasonal Flu
• Occurs every year
• Occurs during the winter
• Unpleasant but not life threatening
• Takes 1 2 wks to recover without medical
  treatment
• Very young, very old are most at risk
• Vaccine available in advance
• Annual vaccination recommended
• Antiviral drugs available to treat those at
  special risk

• Pandemic Flu
• Occurs every 30-40 yrs
• Occurs any time of year
• Some will not recover even with medical treatment
• Higher severity of illness, greater risk of death
• People of every age may be at risk for serious
  illness
• Vaccine not available in advance
• Whole population vaccinated when vaccine
  available
• Antivirals in limited supply

4
World Health Organizations 7 Phases

• Preparedness Period
• Phase 1 no new influenza subtypes detected in
  human
• virus causing human
  infection is present in
• animals
• Phase 2 circulating animal virus subtype poses
  risk of
• human disease
• Phase 3 human infection with new subtype but no
• human to human spread
• Phase 4 small clusters of human to human spread
• Phase 5 larger clusters of human to human
  spread but
• not fully transmissible
  (substantial pandemic risk)

5
World Health Organization

• Response Period
• Phase 6 pandemic phase increased sustained
  transmission to general public
• Recovery period
• Phase 7 return to preparedness phase

6
HDSB Plan Phase 3 animal to human spread only

• Preparedness Phase
• develop school-based plan template
• Encourage vigilance to hand washing techniques
  and other health etiquette strategies
• Reinforce cross training of jobs to ensure
  essential services at Board level
• Enhanced training for all staff
• Reinforce education programs
• Provide regular updates to staff, students and
  community

7
HDSB Plan Phase 4 small clusters of human to
human spread

• Encourage parents to find alternate childcare
  options
• Comply with Ministry of Health and/or Medical
  Officer of Health orders/instructions
• Institute enhanced infection control procedures
• Cross training between essential services
  personnel at JWS
• Regular updates to staff, students and community

8
HDSB Plan Phase 5larger clusters of human to
human spread

• Institute communication plan across the system
• Notify community of possible school closures and
  transportation cancellations
• Restrict community, volunteers, visitors access
  to schools
• Rigorous infection control practices in place
• Explore alternative learning opportunities
• Develop internal procedure for Principal and
  staff use when dealing with suspected case of
  human avian influenza
• Develop a notification process for schools to
  report staff and student absenteeism

9
HDSB Plan Phase 6 Pandemic

• Individual school/business/system continuity
  plans implemented
• Strict restriction on access to schools
• All schools will likely be closed across the
  province
• Schools may be used by Medical officer of Health
  for information clinics, dissemination points,
  triage centres, etc.
• Rigorous infection control practices in place
• Regular situational updates posted on Board
  website

10
HDSB Plan Phase 7 Recovery

• Transitioning to normal operations
• Schools will implement their recovery plan
• Arrange debrief of pandemic event for staff and
  students
• Activate trauma/grief counselling
• Evaluate effectiveness of plan
• Continue to update and maintain the plan
• Continue to educate Board and community about
  importance of influenza virus surveillance and
  preventative measures.

11
HDSB Communication Plan

• See flow chart on page 8
• Specific Board Operational details are outlined
  on pages 9 and 10
• Roles and Responsibilities are outlined on pages
  10 to 12
• Facts about Influenza pandemic Vaccine and
  Antiviral Drugs, pages 13 and 14.