the vermont department of health overview of pandemic influenza regional pandemic planning summits...

The Vermont Department of Health

Overview of Pandemic Influenza

Regional Pandemic Planning Summits • 2006

Guidance • Support • Prevention • Protection


Topics• Definitions

• Potential Impacts of an Influenza Pandemic

• Overview of Vermont’s Pandemic Response Plan


Definitions


Seasonal Influenza• Human illness• Occurs “seasonally” • Fall/winter/spring

• Vaccine available• Most people have uncomplicated illness,

though there are severe consequences:• 36,000 deaths/year in U.S.• Over 100,000 hospitalizations/year in U.S.


Avian Influenza• Illness in birds• Domestic and wild (migratory) • Usually with different strains of the virus than

what are found in humans

• Humans rarely can get infected/ill:• Risk associated with close contact to infected

birds or their contaminated environments

• H5N1 one example


Pandemic Influenza• A “Pandemic” is a global disease outbreak

• For an influenza pandemic to occur:• A new type of the influenza virus • Most or all of the population susceptible• Virus easily spread person to person• Widespread illness and death

• The first two conditions are met with H5N1


Pandemic Influenza• 20th Century Influenza Pandemics:• 1918 “Spanish flu”

20 – 100 million deaths worldwide– 500,000 deaths U.S.

• 1957 “Asian flu”• 1968 “Hong Kong flu”


Potential Impacts of an Influenza Pandemic


Impact of the Next Pandemic• Simultaneous and sustained impact

across U.S. and globally:• Pandemic unlike other emergencies where

we can rely on others to respond

• Disruptions in essential services:• Up to 40% of the population may be out due

to illness, the need to take care of others, or fear


Impact of the Next Pandemic• Likely shortages in vaccine and antiviral

drugs:• May need to rely heavily on more

traditional prevention measures

• Overwhelming numbers of people ill and dead


Potential Impact on VermontModerate Severe

Illness 186,000 186,000

Outpatient visits 93,000 93,000

Hospitalization 1,860 18,600

ICU care 279 2790

Mechanical ventilation 140 1,395

Deaths 372 3,720


Overview of Vermont’s Pandemic Response Plan


Disease Surveillance and Investigation• Detect cases, identify risk factors for severe

disease and death and monitor the outbreak:• To aide in the implement of prevention and control

measures • To ensure appropriate use of vaccine/antiviral

medications and other limited resources• To advise the public and policy makers• To evaluate prevention and control measures


Procurement, Distribution and Use of Antivirals

• Procure, distribute and use antiviral medications to:• Treat and/or prevent disease

• Limited amount of antiviral medications will mean targeting use to key groups


Procurement, Distribution and Use of Vaccine• Procure, distribute and use vaccine to:• Prevent disease

• Limited amount of vaccine will mean targeting use to key groups


Community Disease Prevention and Control• Implement non-medical interventions to reduce the

transmission of the virus:• “Social Distancing”:

Closing schools, canceling mass gatherings, etc. • Promoting effective behaviors:

Hand hygiene Respiratory etiquette

• Implementing isolation and quarantine: Limited to the very early stage of a pandemic


Supporting Activities/Plans• Mass Clinic• Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)• Epidemiology• Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication• Health Alert Network• Behavioral Health• Others

the vermont department of health overview of pandemic influenza regional pandemic planning summits...

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