Pandemic Influenza

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Pandemic Influenza Alberta Prepares

• Safer Communities Forum
• 2007
• Brad Andres, Alberta Emergency Management Agency
• November 27, 2007

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What is Influenza?

• Influenza is
• A respiratory viral infection
• Its typical signs and symptoms fever, chills,
  muscle aches, headaches, cough
• Its complications pulmonary or cardiac, more
  severe in the elderly, persons with chronic
  conditions, newborns and infants
• It transmits easily from person to person, either
  by droplets, or close contact

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What is Pandemic Influenza?

• Pandemic - an epidemic over a large area e.g.
  country, continent, world
• Pandemic Influenza - is a new virus that causes
  severe illness and spreads easily between people

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History of Influenza Pandemics

• Since 1500s influenza pandemics have occurred 3-4
  times per century
• 3 influenza pandemics occurred in the last
  century
• Spanish Flu of 1918 (H1N1)
• Asian Flu of 1957 (H2N2) and
• Hong Kong Flu of 1968 (H3N2).
• Each pandemic is different and varies in the
  degree of severity.

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Avian Influenza Why is it so important?

• 1997, Hong Kong A new avian influenza virus
  (H5N1)
• then another wave in 2003
• then another wave in 2004
• then declared endemic in the bird population
  since December 2004.
• Humans can get infected with the avian (bird)
  strain, yet rarely.
• No significant human to human transmission of
  this bird strain yet.

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Avian Influenza
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Human Cases
.
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Kitchen in Rural China
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Current Pandemic Risk for H5N1

• Susceptible human population
• Novel virus in avian and animal populations
• Virus is infectious for humans
• Virus is highly pathogenic (high mortality)
• Efficient human-to-human spread

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Albertas Preparedness Strategy

• A health emergency that can turn into a
  general emergency impact to society as a
  whole
• A cross-ministry response is required to ensure
  the Government of Alberta (GOA) and the province
  is adequately prepared and able to respond to a
  pandemic.

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Coordinated Responses

• Health Response Objectives
• Reducing influenza illness and death
• Minimizing societal disruption among Albertans by
  providing access to appropriate prevention, care
  and treatment
• GoA Operations Response Objectives
• Supporting delivery of governments essential
  services
• Supporting the Health Response
• Supporting the societal response working with
  external stakeholders

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Health Planning Assumptions

• Pandemic influenza is inevitable projecting
• 1 3 yrs.
• Will arrive in Canada within 3 months after it
  appears in the world
• Will last 12 18 months expecting 2 3 waves
  of 6 8 weeks each

• Transmission by large droplet and contact (not
  airborne)
• Can spread 24 hours before the start of symptoms
  and 5 - 7 days after
• Course of illness (without complications) is 5
  7 days

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Health Planning Assumptions

• Impact unpredictable in timing, severity of
  illness, and age groups affected novel virus
  strain, therefore most people will be susceptible
  regardless of age
• A majority of the population (over 70) may
  become infected over the course of the pandemic
  but 15 35 of the population will become
  clinically ill (i.e. unable to attend work or
  other activities for at least half a day).

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Health Response Plan
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Albertas Pandemic Influenza Plan (APIP)

• Guides and coordinates activities for use by AHW
  in partnership with regional health authorities
• Operational focus
• Outlines mitigation, preparedness, response and
  recovery actions
• Synchronized with the Canadian Pandemic Influenza
  Plan
• Coordinates with the GOA Pandemic Influenza
  Operations Plan.
• RHAs also have pandemic plans

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Regional Health AuthorityPlanning

• Provide the local health response by
• Providing frontline service delivery
• Delivering vaccine and antivirals
• Collecting and reporting regional surveillance
  data
• Reallocating/deploying resources when necessary
• RHA-specific communication to the public and
  health professionals
• Coordinating with municipal and local stakeholders

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Government of AlbertasOperational Response
Planning
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Provincial PlanningMinistry Role
withClients/Stakeholders

• Each ministry needs to maintain its links to its
  stakeholders.
• Joint discussions on pandemic topics and the
  potential impacts.
• Do its utmost (in line with its Business
  Continuity Plan) to manage its personnel to keep
  ministry critical and vital services running.

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Provincial Planning Essential Industries

• Essential Industries
• Electrical Production Distribution
• Oil Gas Production Distribution
• Food Production Distribution
• Transportation
• Water Control Infrastructure
• Finance
• Telecommunications
• Mortuary Services

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Role of Municipalities Communities

• Ensure local essential services are maintained
  Fire, Police, EMS/Ambulance
• Coordinate pandemic planning with the health
  authorities.
• Support the local health response as much as
  possible.
• Coordinate with GOA through usual emergency
  channels.

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Municipal Preparations
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Coordination of Emergency Powers

• Public Health Act
• Emergency Management Act
• If there is a conflict ...

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Municipal and Regional Health Authority Plans

• Municipality
• Police
• EMS
• Fire
• Utilities
• Regional Health Authority
• Hospital
• Emergency Health Care

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Communications

• Focused on pan province issues
• Reinforces that Municipalities and Regional
  Health Authorities are the first line of defense
  and response.
• Preparedness messaging

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Personal and Family Preparedness MessageHealth

• Hand hygiene is a key strategy to prevent the
  spread of infection
• Self care strategy developed
• Annual flu immunization
• Wash your hands
• Cover your cough
• Stay well
• Stay home if ill
• Be prepared

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Personal and Family Preparedness
MessageEmergencies

• Individual and Family Preparedness
• Guide prepares you for all hazard emergencies
• Municipal response can take up to 72 hours to get
  mobilized

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QUESTIONS?

• Contacts
• Health Link Call Centre - 1-866-408-5465
• Service Alberta Call Centre 310 4455
• Websites
• http//www.health.alberta.ca/influenza/pandemic.ht
  ml
• http//www.aema.alberta.ca/
• http//www.influenza.gc.ca/index_e.html