PREPARING FOR AN
INFLUENZA PANDEMIC
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
1
What is an Influenza Pandemic
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Pandemic – a rapid spread of a severe human
disease that occurs world-wide and affects an
exceptionally high proportion of the
population.
Influenza – refers to a family of highly
contagious viruses that cause illness by
attacking the respiratory tract
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Why Talk About This Now?
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Health officials warn of the potential for an
influenza pandemic
• Based on historical knowledge of past pandemics
and
• Concern about the possibility of a new strain of
human influenza that we have no natural immunity
against
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Why talk about this now, cont’d
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Economists warn of the potential impact of
pandemic influenza on individual businesses
and on the economy worldwide
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Pandemic preparation is an important business
issue
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Previous Influenza Pandemics in the
20th Century
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1918: “Spanish Flu”
40-50 million deaths
1957: “Asian Flu”
1 million deaths
1968: “Hong Kong Flu”
1 million deaths
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Pandemic Influenza vs Seasonal
Influenza
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Pandemic influenza is different from regular
seasonal influenza (flu)
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Seasonal Influenza
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Seasonal influenza (flu) is a respiratory
infection caused by the influenza virus
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Seasonal Influenza
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Affects 5-20% of the population
Occurs every year in winter
Causes 4000 deaths in Canada, ½ - 1 million
worldwide
Most people recover
Deaths usually occur in high risk groups
Vaccine effective
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Pandemic Influenza
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Occurs when a new strain of an influenza virus
develops to which people have little or no
immunity
Spreads easily from person to person and
many people around the world will become
sick and possibly die
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Pandemic Influenza
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Occurs 3-4x/century, any season
Affects 25% or more of the population
May cause 30-50,000 deaths in Canada, 40
million worldwide
More severe illness
Deaths may hit all age groups
No vaccine for up to 4-6 months
Antivirals limited, effectiveness unclear
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Pandemic Influenza
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Spreads rapidly
Occurs in waves, approximately 3-9 months
apart
First wave will last approximately 4-6 weeks
2nd and 3rd wave may be more severe
May occur over a 1-2 year period
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Pandemic Influenza - Symptoms
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Headache, chills, cough
Fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches, fatigue,
runny nose sneezing, watery eyes and throat
irritation
Vomiting and diarrhea may occur, especially in
children
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Pandemic Influenza - Spread
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Spread through droplets that have been
coughed or sneezed into the air by someone
who is infected
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Can spread for up to 24 hrs before onset of
symptoms
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And can still infect others for 3-5 days after
getting sick
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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You can get it by
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Breathing in the droplets through your nose or
mouth or if they land on your eyes
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Shaking hands with infected people and then
touching your nose, eyes or mouth
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Touching contaminated surfaces and then
touching your nose, eyes or mouth
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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What You Can Do
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Improve your overall health
Consider getting an annual flu shot
Wash hands regularly with warm soapy water for at
least 20 seconds or use alcohol based wipes
Before and after eating
After going to the bathroom
After coughing and sneezing
After shaking hands
After touching surfaces that may be contaminated
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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What you can also do
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Cough and sneeze into tissue or your sleeve to
avoid droplet spread
Throw away tissues promptly
Frequently clean and disinfect household and
work space surfaces
Stay at home when sick
Avoid visiting people who have influenza if
you can
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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And….
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Don’t share eating utensils or drinks
Refrain from putting out unwrapped
candy/snacks in the office
Encourage family, friends, and colleagues to
follow these practices
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Pandemic Influenza –
Vaccine/antivirals
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Use and distribution will be determined by
public health officials
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Vaccine will take approximately 4-6 months to
prepare once the strain has been identified
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Work on a national strategy for antiviral use is
ongoing
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Pandemic Influenza – Impact on
Business
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High absenteeism
Employees may die
Travel may be restricted
Supply chains may be interrupted
Fewer customers
Financial losses/business failures
Unemployment may occur
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Pandemic Influenza – Impact on
Health Care System
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Health services may be overwhelmed
About 2-5 million may need outpatient care
About 34,000 to 138,000 needing
hospitalization
About 11,000 to 58,000 deaths
Costs: about $330million to $1.4 billion
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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Pandemic Influenza – Social Effects
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Fear of close proximity to people
Stress due to dealing with illness, deaths,
quarantine, loss of employment, financial loss
Possible closures of public venues, schools
Interruption of critical community services
Estimated costs (loss of productivity) $5-38
billion
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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When will we know it’s here?
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The World Health Organization (WHO) will
officially declare a pandemic influenza
outbreak
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Federal and Provincial/Territorial Public
Health Officials will issue advisories
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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So…Be Prepared
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Plan for yourself and your family
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Be aware of pandemic influenza plans in your
workplace
pandemic influenza planning tool kit for
business/employers, dev'd spring 2006
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