Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
All Indian Pueblo Council
Pueblo Health Committee
New Mexico Dept of Health
Epidemiology and Response Division
Office of Health Emergency
Management
June, 2006
Overview
Avian
or “Bird” Flu
Pandemic Preparedness Planning in NM
Point of Dispensing Sites
What is Avian Influenza?
 Avian
or bird flu is a type of influenza that infects
birds.
 Influenza viruses occur naturally among birds
 Avian flu is very contagious among birds and can
make domestic birds e.g. chickens, turkeys, and
ducks sick, and even kill them
 H5N1 avian influenza or “bird flu” (now in the
news) is NOT pandemic flu
What is pandemic influenza?
 A pandemic
occurs when there is a widespread or
world wide outbreak of disease
 An influenza pandemic or “pandemic flu” is
caused when a new virus appears that people have
not been exposed to before
Seasonal vs. Pandemic influenza
Caused by existing flu
virus
 Healthy adults usually not
at risk
 Modest impact to society
 Approximately 36,000
deaths in US each year

Caused by a new flu virus
 Healthy adults at increased
risk due to little or no
immunity
 Could lead to high levels
of illness, death, social
disruption and economic
loss

Why should we prepare?
Influenza outbreaks among humans are annual events
 A pandemic could occur if a new strain of influenza is
introduced
 A new strain of influenza could pass easily from person to
person
 Local community preparedness can mitigate some of the
severe effects of a pandemic on individuals, families &
communities

“The pandemic clock is ticking, we just don’t know
what time it is”
E. Marcuse
Where are we now?




Human cases of H5N1 avian
flu are very rare, occurring
mainly in Asia where people
live close to domestic poultry
Human to human transmission
of bird flu is rare, where it may
have occurred , did not spread
beyond immediate family
Currently, there is no H5N1
virus in the United States
New Mexico is on the Central
Flyway for migrating
waterfowl



World Health Organization
(WHO) and Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) are
closely monitoring the avian
flu
US Fish and Wildlife is
monitoring migratory birds in
Alaska
NM Game and Fish is
monitoring the Sandhill Cranes
Eagles and Turkeys
Eagles and turkeys are not
migratory but susceptible
to the avian flu virus
 Caution should be taken
when gathering eagles
from the wild
 US Fish & Wildlife
repository tests eagles for
flu before sending them to
Native Americans

Pandemic Preparedness in NM
 NMDOH
received $956,824 from CDC to engage
in statewide pandemic preparedness planning
 Tribes will each receive $8,000 for planning
 Tribes must sign an MOA with the State to receive
funds
 Tribes must be listed as a current vendor with the
State
Pandemic Preparedness in NM
County Emergency Managers are the leads for pandemic
preparedness planning in each county
 Tribes must identify who will coordinate tribal pandemic
response planning with County Emergency Managers
 Counties will sign an MOA with the State that obligates
them to work closely with the Tribes
 Tribal emergency managers & IHS are partners in Statelevel Unified Command of agencies coordinating
pandemic planning (others NM DPS/OEM, NMDOH, &
NM Emergency Managers Association)

Point of Dispensing Sites
Point of Dispensing Sites or PODS can be used for giving
mass vaccinations in the event of public health
emergencies
 PODS are not permanent locations and must be separate
from hospitals
 It is the State’s responsibility to establish PODS in
consultation with the tribes
 Currently, the State has established 87 POD sites
 Tribes have the option to set up PODs on tribal land

Requirements for PODS

Building that is accessible to the public with:
adequate parking
 phone lines
 Internet access (preferred)

Assurance of security for medication, facility & personnel
 Design & plan for service flow throughout facility
 Operated primarily by members of your community

Factors to consider
 States
and Tribes largely will be on their own to
prepare for and respond if a pandemic occurs
 Indian Health Service will be overwhelmed with
the demand for services in their own facilities
 There may be very high levels of illness and death
 Vaccine may not be available for up to 6 months
after initial outbreak
 There will not be enough vaccine for everyone
Additional Resources
www.pandemicflu.gov
www.nmbirdflu.org/
www.health.state.nm.us/ohem/
NM Dept Health, Infec. Disease & Epi: 505-827-0006
NM Game & Fish: 505-476-8000
Joe Baca, Native American Planner
NMDOH, Epidemiology & Response Division
Office of Health Emergency Management
505-476-7873
joe.baca@state.nm.us