1

Pandemic Pandemic Influenza – Alberta Influenza – Alberta

PreparesPrepares

Safer Communities ForumSafer Communities Forum20072007

Brad Andres, Alberta Emergency Management AgencyBrad Andres, Alberta Emergency Management AgencyNovember 27, 2007November 27, 2007

2

What is Influenza?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

3

What is Pandemic What is Pandemic Influenza?Influenza?

Pandemic -Pandemic - an epidemic over a large an epidemic over a large area e.g. country, continent, worldarea e.g. country, continent, world

Pandemic Influenza -Pandemic Influenza - is a new virus is a new virus that causes severe illness and that causes severe illness and spreads easily between people spreads easily between people

4

History of Influenza History of Influenza PandemicsPandemics

Since 1500s influenza pandemics have Since 1500s influenza pandemics have occurred 3-4 times per century occurred 3-4 times per century

3 influenza pandemics occurred in the last 3 influenza pandemics occurred in the last century: century: Spanish Flu of 1918 (H1N1); Spanish Flu of 1918 (H1N1); Asian Flu of 1957 (H2N2); and Asian Flu of 1957 (H2N2); and Hong Kong Flu of 1968 (H3N2).Hong Kong Flu of 1968 (H3N2).

Each pandemic is different and varies in the Each pandemic is different and varies in the degree of severity. degree of severity.

5

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.

6

Avian InfluenzaAvian Influenza

7

Human Cases Human Cases

.

8

Kitchen in Rural ChinaKitchen in Rural China

9

Current Pandemic Risk Current Pandemic Risk for H5N1for H5N1

Susceptible human populationSusceptible human population Novel virus in avian and animal Novel virus in avian and animal

populationspopulations Virus is infectious for humansVirus is infectious for humans Virus is highly pathogenic (high Virus is highly pathogenic (high

mortality)mortality) EfficientEfficient human-to-human spread human-to-human spread

10

Alberta’s Preparedness Alberta’s Preparedness StrategyStrategy

A ‘health’ emergency that can turn into a A ‘health’ emergency that can turn into a ‘general’ emergency – impact to society ‘general’ emergency – impact to society as a wholeas a whole

A cross-ministry response is required to A cross-ministry response is required to ensure the Government of Alberta (GOA) ensure the Government of Alberta (GOA) and the province is adequately prepared and the province is adequately prepared and able to respond to a pandemic.and able to respond to a pandemic.

11

Coordinated ResponsesCoordinated Responses Health Response Objectives:Health Response Objectives:

Reducing influenza illness and deathReducing influenza illness and death Minimizing societal disruption among Albertans by Minimizing societal disruption among Albertans by

providing access to appropriate prevention, care and providing access to appropriate prevention, care and treatmenttreatment

GoA Operations Response ObjectivesGoA Operations Response Objectives Supporting delivery of government’s essential Supporting delivery of government’s essential

servicesservices Supporting the Health ResponseSupporting the Health Response Supporting the societal response – working with Supporting the societal response – working with

external stakeholdersexternal stakeholders

12

Health Planning Health Planning AssumptionsAssumptions

Pandemic influenza is Pandemic influenza is inevitable – projecting inevitable – projecting 1 – 3 yrs.1 – 3 yrs.

Will arrive in Canada Will arrive in Canada within 3 months after within 3 months after it appears in the worldit appears in the world

Will last 12 – 18 Will last 12 – 18 months; expecting 2 – months; expecting 2 – 3 waves of 6 – 8 3 waves of 6 – 8 weeks eachweeks each

Transmission by large Transmission by large droplet and contact droplet and contact (not airborne)(not airborne)

Can spread 24 hours Can spread 24 hours before the start of before the start of symptoms and 5 - 7 symptoms and 5 - 7 days afterdays after

Course of illness Course of illness (without (without complications) is 5 – 7 complications) is 5 – 7 daysdays

13

Health Planning Health Planning AssumptionsAssumptions

Impact unpredictable in timing, severity of Impact unpredictable in timing, severity of illness, and age groups affected; novel virus illness, and age groups affected; novel virus strain, therefore most people will be strain, therefore most people will be susceptible regardless of age susceptible regardless of age

A majority of the population (over 70%) may A majority of the population (over 70%) may become infected over the course of the become infected over the course of the pandemic but 15 – 35% of the population will pandemic but 15 – 35% of the population will become clinically ill (i.e. unable to attend work become clinically ill (i.e. unable to attend work or other activities for at least half a day).or other activities for at least half a day).

14

Health Response Health Response PlanPlan

15

Alberta’s Alberta’s Pandemic Influenza Plan Pandemic Influenza Plan

(APIP)(APIP) Guides and coordinates activities for use Guides and coordinates activities for use by AHW in partnership with regional by AHW in partnership with regional health authoritieshealth authorities

Operational focusOperational focus Outlines mitigation, preparedness, Outlines mitigation, preparedness,

response and recovery actionsresponse and recovery actions Synchronized with the Canadian Pandemic Synchronized with the Canadian Pandemic

Influenza PlanInfluenza Plan Coordinates with the GOA Pandemic Coordinates with the GOA Pandemic

Influenza Operations Plan.Influenza Operations Plan. RHAs also have pandemic plansRHAs also have pandemic plans

16

Regional Health AuthorityRegional Health AuthorityPlanningPlanning

Provide the local health response by:Provide the local health response by: Providing frontline service deliveryProviding frontline service delivery Delivering vaccine and antiviralsDelivering vaccine and antivirals Collecting and reporting regional surveillance Collecting and reporting regional surveillance

datadata Reallocating/deploying resources when necessaryReallocating/deploying resources when necessary RHA-specific communication to the public and RHA-specific communication to the public and

health professionalshealth professionals Coordinating with municipal and local Coordinating with municipal and local

stakeholdersstakeholders

17

Government of Government of Alberta’sAlberta’s

Operational Operational Response Response PlanningPlanning

18

Provincial PlanningProvincial PlanningMinistry Role withMinistry Role with

Clients/StakeholdersClients/Stakeholders Each ministry needs to maintain its Each ministry needs to maintain its

links to its stakeholders.links to its stakeholders. Joint discussions on pandemic topics Joint discussions on pandemic topics

and the potential impacts.and the potential impacts. Do its utmost (in line with its Do its utmost (in line with its

Business Continuity Plan) to manage Business Continuity Plan) to manage its personnel to keep ministry critical its personnel to keep ministry critical and vital services running.and vital services running.

19

Provincial Planning Provincial Planning Essential IndustriesEssential Industries

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

20

Role of Municipalities & Role of Municipalities & CommunitiesCommunities

Ensure local essential services are Ensure local essential services are maintained – Fire, Police, maintained – Fire, Police, EMS/AmbulanceEMS/Ambulance

Coordinate pandemic planning with Coordinate pandemic planning with the health authorities.the health authorities.

Support the local health response as Support the local health response as much as possible.much as possible.

Coordinate with GOA through usual Coordinate with GOA through usual emergency channels.emergency channels.

21

Municipal Municipal PreparationsPreparations

22

Coordination of Emergency Coordination of Emergency PowersPowers

Public Health ActPublic Health Act Emergency Management ActEmergency Management Act

If there is a conflict ...If there is a conflict ...

23

Municipal and Municipal and Regional Health Authority Regional Health Authority

PlansPlans MunicipalityMunicipality

PolicePolice EMSEMS FireFire UtilitiesUtilities

Regional Health AuthorityRegional Health Authority HospitalHospital Emergency Health CareEmergency Health Care

24

CommunicationsCommunications

Focused on pan –province issuesFocused on pan –province issues Reinforces that Municipalities and Reinforces that Municipalities and

Regional Health Authorities are the Regional Health Authorities are the first line of defense and response.first line of defense and response.

Preparedness messagingPreparedness messaging

25

Personal and Family Preparedness Personal and Family Preparedness MessageMessage

HealthHealth Hand hygiene is a key strategy to Hand hygiene is a key strategy to

prevent the spread of infectionprevent the spread of infection Self care strategy developedSelf care strategy developed

Annual flu immunizationAnnual flu immunization Wash your handsWash your hands Cover your coughCover your cough Stay wellStay well Stay home if illStay home if ill Be preparedBe prepared

26

Personal and Family Preparedness Personal and Family Preparedness MessageMessage

EmergenciesEmergencies Individual and Individual and

Family PreparednessFamily Preparedness

Guide prepares you Guide prepares you for all hazard for all hazard emergenciesemergencies

Municipal response Municipal response can take up to 72 can take up to 72 hours to get mobilizedhours to get mobilized

27

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

Contacts:Contacts: Health Link Call Centre - 1-866-408-5465 Health Link Call Centre - 1-866-408-5465 Service Alberta Call Centre – 310 4455Service Alberta Call Centre – 310 4455 Websites:Websites:

http://www.health.alberta.ca/influenza/pandehttp://www.health.alberta.ca/influenza/pandemic.htmlmic.html

http://www.aema.alberta.ca/http://www.aema.alberta.ca/ http://www.influenza.gc.ca/index_e.htmlhttp://www.influenza.gc.ca/index_e.html