Pandemic Influenza

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Pandemic Influenza

• ETAs Preparation and Response Plan

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Topics
1. Understanding the Flu
2. Human Risk
3. ETA Responsibilities
4. Protection Strategies
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Flu Types
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Seasonal (or common) Flu

• A respiratory illness that can be transmitted
  person to person. Most people have some immunity,
  and a vaccine is available.

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Avian (or bird) Flu

• Caused by influenza viruses that occur
  naturally among wild birds. The H5N1 variant is
  deadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted
  from birds to humans. There is no human immunity
  and no vaccine is available.

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Pandemic Flu

• A virulent human flu that causes a global
  outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness.
  Because there is little natural immunity, the
  disease can spread easily from person to person.
  Currently, there is no pandemic flu.

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Pandemic Influenza Avian Influenza
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Influenza Transmission

• Viruses

Leave original host
Survive in transit
Delivered to a susceptible host
Reach a susceptible part of the host
Escape host defenses
Multiply and cause illness
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Avian Influenza vs. Pandemic Influenza

• Avian influenza refers to a large group of
  different influenza viruses that primarily affect
  birds.

A pandemic influenza happens when a new
subtype emerges that has not previously
circulated in humans.
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Avian Influenza Birds to Humans

• Migratory Domestic birds Humans
• water birds

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Human Risk
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Human Risk

• The risk from avian influenza is generally low
  to most people, because the viruses do not
  usually infect humans. H5N1 is one of the few
  avian influenza viruses to have crossed the
  species barrier to infect humans, and it is the
  most deadly of those that have crossed the
  barrier.

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Human Risk

• Most cases of H5N1 influenza infection in humans
  have resulted from contact with infected poultry
  or surfaces contaminated with secretion/excretions
  from infected birds.
• So far, the spread of H5N1 virus from person to
  person has been limited and has not continued
  beyond one person. Nonetheless, because all
  influenza viruses have the ability to change,
  which poses the concern that H5N1 virus could one
  day be able to infect humans and spread easily
  from one person to another.

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H5N1 Incubation

• The incubation period for H5N1 avian
  influenza may be longer than that for normal
  seasonal influenza, which is around two to three
  days. Current data for H5N1 infection indicate an
  incubation period ranging from two to eight days
  and possibly as long as 17 days.
• 
  http//www.who.int/en/

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When a pandemic begins
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A pandemic can start when three conditions have
been met
Criteria 1
Criteria 2
Criteria 3
it infects humans causing serious illness
and it spreads easily and substainably among
humans
A new influenza subtype emerges
The H5N1 virus amply meets the first two
conditions.
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Planning for a Pandemic

• Talk with family members and loved ones about how
  they would be cared for if they got sick, or what
  will be needed to care for them in your home.
• Get involved in your community as it works to
  prepare for an influenza pandemic.

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Planning for a Pandemic

• Store a supply of water and food. During a
  pandemic, if you cannot get to a store, or if
  stores are out of supplies, it will be important
  for you to have extra supplies on hand.
• Have any nonprescription drugs and other health
  supplies on hand, including pain relievers,
  stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines,
  fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins.

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ETA Responsibilities
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ETA Responsibilities

• Protect ETAs workforce with the coordination of
  the Office of Human Resources.
• Implement testing, training and exercising of the
  Pandemic Influenza COOP plans.
• Implement plans and procedures capable of
  maintaining sustained operations until normal
  business operations can be restored.
• Sustain essential functions which can be
  performed from home or other locations.

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ETA Responsibilities

• Provide for the succession of office and
  emergency delegation of authority.
• Provide a plan for three levels of geographical
  orders of succession.
• Facilitate a system for the continuation of
  communication.
• Provide for the safekeeping of essential
  resources, facilities and records.

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Protection Strategies
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Response A Layered Approach

• Individual/Household Community
• Hand Hygiene Isolation of ill
• Cough etiquette Treatment of ill
• Infection control Quarantine of exposed
• Living space control Prophylaxis of exposed
• Isolation of ill School closure
• Designated care provider Social distancing
• Facemasks - Workplace
• - Community
• Liberal leave policies

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Status of Vaccine Development

• The first human trial of DNA vaccine designed
  to prevent H5N1 avian influenza infection began
  on December 21, 2006, when the vaccine was
  administered to the first volunteer at the
  National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical
  Center in Bethesda, MD. Scientists from the
  Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National
  Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  (NIAID), one of the NIH Institutes, designed the
  vaccine. The vaccine does not contain any
  infectious material from the influenza virus.
• http//www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2007/niaid-02.htm

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Global Pandemic Status Update
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Situation in the U.S.July 11, 2008

• Public engagement meetings are being sponsored by
  the National Association of county and City
  Health Officials (NACCHO), the Association of
  State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO),
  The Keystone Center, in cooperation with the U.S.
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
  and local health departments in order to fulfill
  the governments vaccine prioritization goals.
  States and cities will decide who should be
  vaccinated first during a pandemic.
• All United States are required to submit their
  pandemic influenza operational plans to CDC.

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Resources

• Department of Health and Human Services, (2006).
  Pandemic planning update. Retrieved Mar. 20,
  2006, from Pandemicflu.com
• Web site http//www.pandemicflu.gov/general/faq.
  html.
• Department of Health and Human Services Centers
  for Disease Control, (2006). Pandemic influenza
  information for health professionals . Retrieved
  Mar. 20, 2006, from http//www.cdc.gov.
• The World Health Organization, (2007). Epidemic
  and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR). Retrieved
  January 18, 2007 from http//www.who.int/en/.
• Website http/www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influ
  enza/avian_faqs/en/indes.html.
• Website
• http//www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/

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The End