AH1N1 Swine Influenza briefing for Head Teachers

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A/H1N1 (Swine Influenza) briefing
for Head Teachers

• Dr Andrew Mortimore Director of Public Health
• Dr Graham Watkinson Consultant in Public Health

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What do we know about A/H1N1 influenza?

• New flu virus of swine origin that was first
  detected in April, 2009
• No/low immunity and high transmission
• Currently causing mainly relatively mild illness,
  but potential to change
• Potential for pandemic
• Possible second phase in autumn/winter
• New strategies antivirals and vaccines

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Current situation

• A/H1N1 so far (3rd June)
• 19,233 cases in 66 countries 117 deaths
• 10,053 cases (17 deaths) in US
• 330 cases in UK (no deaths)
• 1 local case full recovery
• 2 June 2009 Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human
  Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO
  433 with 262 deaths

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International Phases and the significance to the
UK
How will a pandemic be signalled?
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NHS response

• Containment phase
• Increased surveillance
• Case finding - microbiology and virology
• Contact tracing
• Preparedness
• National Flu Service
• Service resilience
• Mitigation and treatment phase
• Infection control
• Organisation and reinforcement of health services
• Hygiene control measures
• Antiviral agents
• Vaccination

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Transmission

• Flu is usually spread through one of three main
  routes -
• Droplet transmission droplets may be
  generated by coughing, sneezing, or even talking.
  
• Direct contact transmission this occurs
  during skin-to-skin or oral contact.
• Indirect contact transmission takes place
  when a susceptible person has contact with a
  contaminated object, such as bedding, furniture
  or crockery which is usually in the environment
  of an infected person.

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A pandemic wave
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School closure

• The HPA recommends that when a probable or
  confirmed case of swine flu (A/H1N1) occurs in a
  school setting, consideration should be given to
  temporarily closing the school initially for a
  period of seven days.
• A decision to close, or not, should be taken on
  the basis of an individual risk assessment for
  the school.
• the nature of the illness in the presenting case,
• ?the nature of the school environment including
• the extent to which classes or year groups are
  separate or intermingle
• the physical layout of classes
• the presence or absence of communal eating
  facilities.

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Conclusion

• NHS Southampton is proactive in its planning
• We are working with wider health /social care
  economy
• We aim to ensure our population health is
  protected

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