Preparedness and Prevention for a Influenza Pandemic

1
Preparedness and Prevention for aInfluenza
Pandemic

• Katrina Rice
• Doctorate Student
• Walden University
• PUBH-8165
• Environmental Health

2
Target Audiences

• School Nurses
• Educators (e.g. teachers, child care takers)

3
Objectives

• What is an influenza pandemic?
• Significance of the pandemic
• Ways to
• Prepare for an influenza pandemic
• Prevent the spread of an influenza pandemic

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What is influenza?

• Also called the flu
• Viral infection which affects the respiratory
  tract
• Symptoms can be mild to severe and can lead to
  death
• According to the CDC, within the United States
  yearly
• 5 to 20 of the population gets the flu
• More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from
  flu-related complications
• Approximately 36,000 people die from flu-related
  causes

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
(2009). Seasonal Flu. Retrieved October 23, 2009,
from http//www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm
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What is influenza? (contd)

• Three types of influenza viruses which infect
  humans A, B, and C
• Influenza A viruses are further classified by
  subtype
• Influenza A subtypes and B viruses are further
  classified by strains.
• Subtypes of influenza A currently circulating
  worldwide include H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 viruses
• H1N1 (Swine) flu is a new virus first seen in the
  US

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
(2009). Avian Influenza (Flu) Influenza
Viruses. Retrieved October 23, 2009, from
http//www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/flu-viruses.
htm FLU.gov (2009). About the Flu. Retrieved
October 27, 2009, from http//www.flu.gov/individu
alfamily/about/index.html
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What is a pandemic?

• Pandemic is defined as a worldwide epidemic of a
  disease
• An influenza pandemic may occur when a new
  influenza virus appears against which the human
  population has no immunity
• Such as in the case of the H1N1
• As of June 11, 2009 the World Health Organization
  (WHO) declared a global pandemic of the H1N1 flu
• As of October 17, 2009 worldwide more than
  414,000 laboratory cases of H1N1 have been
  confirmed

World Health Organization (WHO). (2009). Global
Alert and Response (GAR) Pandemic preparedness.
Retrieved October 27, 2009, from
http//www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/pandemic/
en/ World Health Organization (WHO). (2009).
Global Alert and Response (GAR) Pandemic (H1N1)
2009 update 71. Retrieved October 27, 2009, from
http//www.who.int/csr/don/2009_10_23/en/index.htm
l
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Influenza pandemic preparation

• Know the facts
• Understand the difference between seasonal flu
  and H1N1
• Develop communication tools
• Develop ways to increase social distances (space
  between students)
• Have PPE (personal protective equipment) such as
  masks and alcohol-based hand cleaners on hand
• Have cleaning supplies on hand
• Keep surfaces and class room items clean

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
(2009). Preparing for the Flu (Including the 2009
H1N1 Flu). Electronic version. Retrieved
October 27, 2009, from http//www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
schools/toolkit/pdf/schoolflutoolkit.pdf
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Prevent the spread of influenza

• Advocate for the flu vaccine
• Educate students on proper hygiene
• Educate other teachers and staff to stay home
  when sick
• Be a good role model
• Collaborate with local public health officials

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
(2009). Preventing the Spread of Influenza (the
Flu) in Child Care Settings Guidance for
Administrators, Care Providers, and Other Staff.
Retrieved October 27, 2009, from
http//www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncont
rol/childcaresettings.htm
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Summary

• An influenza pandemic is an epidemic of influenza
  virus, such as H1N1, that spreads on a worldwide
  scale
• The WHO declared H1N1 to be a global pandemic
  after significant evidence that is has affected
  over 414,000 people across 74 countries

Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia (2009).
Influenza pandemic. Retrieved October 27, 2009,
from http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_pandem
ic
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Summary, cont.

• As school nurses and educators there are many
  ways you can help to prepare and prevent the
  continuous spread of the influenza pandemic.
  Some key ways include
• Know the facts
• Advocate for children and families to get the flu
  vaccines
• Educate on proper hygiene
• Be a good role model

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Additional Resources

• Institute of Medicine (IOM). (2009). Pandemic
  Influenza A Guide to Recent Institute Medicine
  Studies and Workshops
• Santa Clara Valley Health Hospital System.
  (nd). Preparing for Pandemic Flu. Public Health
  Department. http//www.sccgov.org/SCC/docs2FPubli
  c20Health20Department20(DEP)/attachments/PHPand
  emicEng.pdf
• Connecticut Department of Health. (2002-2009). CT
  Flu Watch. http//www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch/site/defau
  lt.asp
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
  Diseases (NIAID). (2009). Flu Viruses Notoriously
  Unpredictable Robust Pandemic Preparedness
  Efforts Critical. http//www.niaid.nih.gov

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References

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  (2009). Preventing the Spread of Influenza (the
  Flu) in Child Care Settings Guidance for
  Administrators, Care Providers, and Other Staff.
  Retrieved October 27, 2009, from
  http//www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncont
  rol/childcaresettings.htm
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  (2009). Seasonal Flu. Retrieved October 23, 2009,
  from http//www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  (2009). Avian Influenza (Flu) Influenza
  Viruses. Retrieved October 23, 2009, from
  http//www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/flu-viruses.
  htm
• FLU.gov (2009). About the Flu. Retrieved October
  27, 2009, from http//www.flu.gov/individualfamily
  /about/index.html
• Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia (2009).
  Influenza pandemic. Retrieved October 27, 2009,
  from http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_pandem
  ic
• World Health Organization (WHO). (2009). Global
  Alert and Response (GAR) Pandemic preparedness.
  Retrieved October 27, 2009, from
  http//www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/pandemic/
  en/