Pandemic PreparednessPandemic PreparednessPrepare don’t Panic!Prepare don’t Panic!

November 5, 2009November 5, 2009Oshkosh Chamber of CommerceOshkosh Chamber of Commerce

Pandemic InfluenzaPandemic InfluenzaWhy all the hype?Why all the hype?

H1N1 Quiz- how much do you really H1N1 Quiz- how much do you really know?know?

The inside medical scoopThe inside medical scoop What is Healthcare, Public Health and our What is Healthcare, Public Health and our

community in the midst of, and how are we community in the midst of, and how are we doing?doing?

Quiz answers….Quiz answers…. Questions and answersQuestions and answers

H1N1 QuizH1N1 Quiz True or False??True or False??

1.1. The primary symptoms of H1N1 are fever >100.8, cough, sore The primary symptoms of H1N1 are fever >100.8, cough, sore throat and body aches.throat and body aches.

2.2. H1N1 is spread in the air (airborne).H1N1 is spread in the air (airborne).3.3. There is a medication to treat H1N1.There is a medication to treat H1N1.4.4. You can catch H1N1 by eating pork.You can catch H1N1 by eating pork.5.5. There is H1N1 vaccine available now.There is H1N1 vaccine available now.6.6. The elderly and very young have been most severely affected in the The elderly and very young have been most severely affected in the

current H1N1 outbreakcurrent H1N1 outbreak7.7. I am overly concerned about this H1N1 pandemic and what it I am overly concerned about this H1N1 pandemic and what it

means for me as a person as well as being part of a business.means for me as a person as well as being part of a business.

Flu DefinitionsFlu Definitions

Epidemic - Epidemic - The occurrence of more cases of disease The occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a given area or among a specific group of than expected in a given area or among a specific group of people over a particular period of timepeople over a particular period of time

Pandemic -Pandemic -A pandemic is an epidemic that occurs A pandemic is an epidemic that occurs across several countries and affects a sizable portion of the across several countries and affects a sizable portion of the population in eachpopulation in each

H1N1 - H1N1 - A subtype of A subtype of INFLUENZA A VIRUSINFLUENZA A VIRUS comprised of the surface proteins hemagglutinin 1 and comprised of the surface proteins hemagglutinin 1 and neuraminidase 1neuraminidase 1

H1N1 factsH1N1 facts

Pandemics, while rare, are not newPandemics, while rare, are not new– In the 20th century there were three flu In the 20th century there were three flu

pandemics –in 1918, 1957 and 1968 – that pandemics –in 1918, 1957 and 1968 – that combined killed more than 50 million people combined killed more than 50 million people worldwide and almost a million people in the worldwide and almost a million people in the United StatesUnited States

WHO declares flu pandemic June 11, WHO declares flu pandemic June 11, 20092009

WHO estimates that up to 40-60% of WHO estimates that up to 40-60% of the world population may be infected the world population may be infected with H1N1 over the next 1-2 yearswith H1N1 over the next 1-2 years

Pandemic flu IS NOT the Pandemic flu IS NOT the same as seasonal flu.same as seasonal flu.

With a pandemic flu:With a pandemic flu: People have little or no immunity because the virus is People have little or no immunity because the virus is

newnew Symptoms may be more severe than seasonalSymptoms may be more severe than seasonal flu, even among healthy children and young adultsflu, even among healthy children and young adults The death rate is higherThe death rate is higher There may be a major impact on society (for There may be a major impact on society (for

example, there may be restrictions on travel and example, there may be restrictions on travel and closings of school and businesses in an effort to slow closings of school and businesses in an effort to slow the transmission of the disease and there could be the transmission of the disease and there could be significant absenteeism in businesses, utility service significant absenteeism in businesses, utility service providers, and other organizations).providers, and other organizations).

No immunization/vaccine available right awayNo immunization/vaccine available right away

2009 H1N12009 H1N1

Not entirely new…Not entirely new… Pandemic payoff: 1918 H1N1 similar and Pandemic payoff: 1918 H1N1 similar and

conferring some immunity todayconferring some immunity today Mass immunizations 1976 (43 million Mass immunizations 1976 (43 million

Americans) conferring some immunity Americans) conferring some immunity todaytoday

Current stateCurrent state

Wisconsin case information to Wisconsin case information to datedate

How will this affect you?How will this affect you?

Imagine that ten percent of your employees are too sick to come to work on any given day. Imagine that cumulatively, a quarter of your workforce could be out for as many as three to four months. Imagine that the other businesses you rely on are facing the same massive absentee rates.

Hard as it may be to believe, such a scenario could happen -- indeed, some health officials say it’s inevitable. The cause: a pandemic flu.

What should you be doing to What should you be doing to prepare, if you haven’t already?prepare, if you haven’t already?

Begin by looking at the “what if’s”?Begin by looking at the “what if’s”? Develop a business continuity/home planDevelop a business continuity/home plan Inform your employees about your planInform your employees about your plan Look at HR planning- excuse return to work formsLook at HR planning- excuse return to work forms Plan to operate with significant absenteeismPlan to operate with significant absenteeism Protect your workplace by asking sick employees Protect your workplace by asking sick employees

to stay home-adapt absentee policiesto stay home-adapt absentee policies Provide immunizationsProvide immunizations Know where and how to get current reliable Know where and how to get current reliable

information.information.

What Pandemic Flu Could What Pandemic Flu Could Mean To Your BusinessMean To Your Business

A pandemic flu spreads rapidly and easily from A pandemic flu spreads rapidly and easily from person to person, affecting all age groups, person to person, affecting all age groups, especially the young.especially the young.

It will cause illness in a high proportion of those It will cause illness in a high proportion of those infected. Health officials are concernedinfected. Health officials are concerned

That H1N1 may mutate with the seasonal flu That H1N1 may mutate with the seasonal flu which would cause a whole new problem which would cause a whole new problem including resistance to antivirals.including resistance to antivirals.

Again it is take several weeks/months to know Again it is take several weeks/months to know exactly which direction this virus will take in the exactly which direction this virus will take in the next wave. Over reaction is a must until the next wave. Over reaction is a must until the strain is identified and contained.strain is identified and contained.

The key to containment…The key to containment…

1.Wash hands frequently1.Wash hands frequently

2. Cover coughs/sneezes2. Cover coughs/sneezes

3. Stay home if you are 3. Stay home if you are ill!ill!

*The lower Japanese death rate *The lower Japanese death rate during the 1918 flu pandemic during the 1918 flu pandemic was thought to be related to was thought to be related to more effective containment.more effective containment.

If you have symptoms what to If you have symptoms what to expect?expect?

Limited testing is being done.Limited testing is being done. Recommendation is to stay home- Tylenol Recommendation is to stay home- Tylenol

and fluids- only go to MD is severely illand fluids- only go to MD is severely ill You may be put on antivirals (limited) and You may be put on antivirals (limited) and

asked to stay in isolation for 7 days or until asked to stay in isolation for 7 days or until symptoms have resolved for 24 hours.symptoms have resolved for 24 hours.

Resources to help…Resources to help…

Prepare for a pandemic flu in order to maintain Prepare for a pandemic flu in order to maintain business continuity. business continuity. www.pandemicflu.govwww.pandemicflu.gov (business planning)(business planning)

Help protect employees’ health.Help protect employees’ health.

communicate to employees your planscommunicate to employees your plans

encourage every employee to have a personal planencourage every employee to have a personal plan

www.pandemicflu.gov ( family planning)www.pandemicflu.gov ( family planning) Work with health officials after identifying Work with health officials after identifying

potential issues to minimize disruption of potential issues to minimize disruption of business.business.

What is healthcare and the What is healthcare and the community doing to prepare?community doing to prepare?

The healthcare systems and community members The healthcare systems and community members have been working for years for this event. have been working for years for this event.

Partner meetingsPartner meetings Incident command centersIncident command centers PIO-public information officersPIO-public information officers SuppliesSupplies Employee planningEmployee planning Staffing needsStaffing needs Employee protectionEmployee protection Community educationCommunity education Vaccination planningVaccination planning

Incident command is Key!Incident command is Key!

Healthcare PPEHealthcare PPE(personal protective equipment)(personal protective equipment)

Medical PAPR’sMedical PAPR’s

(protective air purifying respirator)(protective air purifying respirator)

N95 masks are for N95 masks are for healthcare workers healthcare workers and require fit testing and require fit testing to wear.to wear.

Treatment or containment?Treatment or containment?

Antivirals are readily available.Antivirals are readily available. SNS strategic National stockpileSNS strategic National stockpile

Vaccine? To be or not to be?Vaccine? To be or not to be?

This is an unknown at this This is an unknown at this date. The first vaccine date. The first vaccine became available for became available for healthcare workers Mid- healthcare workers Mid- October 2009; production October 2009; production is slower than anticipated. is slower than anticipated. The Federal government The Federal government will cover the cost of the will cover the cost of the vaccine administration vaccine administration fees may apply.fees may apply.

Important websitesImportant websites

www.pandemicflu.govwww.pandemicflu.gov www.pandemic.wisconsin.govwww.pandemic.wisconsin.gov www.ready.govwww.ready.gov www.nejm.orgwww.nejm.org

H1N1 QuizH1N1 Quiz True or False??True or False??

1.1. The primary symptoms of H1N1 are fever >100.8, cough, sore throat and The primary symptoms of H1N1 are fever >100.8, cough, sore throat and body aches body aches TT

2.2. H1N1 is spread in the air (airborne) H1N1 is spread in the air (airborne) FF3.3. There is a medication to treat H1N1 There is a medication to treat H1N1 TT4.4. You can catch H1N1 by eating pork You can catch H1N1 by eating pork FF5.5. There is H1N1 vaccine available now There is H1N1 vaccine available now T T and and FF6.6. The elderly and very young have been most severely affected in the The elderly and very young have been most severely affected in the

current H1N1 outbreak current H1N1 outbreak FF7.7. I am overly concerned about this H1N1 pandemic and what it means for I am overly concerned about this H1N1 pandemic and what it means for

me as a person as well as being part of a business me as a person as well as being part of a business T or F ??T or F ??

Q & AQ & A

What else would you like What else would you like to know?to know?

THANK YOU!!THANK YOU!!