Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 1 Pandemic Threats City of Roseville Pandemic threats and influenzas

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 2 Objective To provide background information about pandemics To provide basic information influenza To raise awareness about how we will prepare and respond to a possible pandemic To provide a forum to ask questions and to understand agency issues and concerns “Once a pandemic virus emerges, it is too late to begin planning or to begin collaboration. There will only be a day window between emergence and pandemic.” Dr. Klaus Stohr, WHO Global Pandemic Project

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 3 Pandemics and Influenzas Overview

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 4 Pandemic flu’s are front page news

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 5 Remember these? SARS Outbreak1 Legionnaires’ Disease Toxic Shock Syndrome Ebola Virus Swine Flu

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 6 Pandemic What is a pandemic?  Global disease outbreak  A new influenza strain emerges  Causes serious illness to large populations worldwide Flu Pandemic of 1918

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 7 Human Influenza  Has been a human adversary for hundreds of years  Vaccines are manufactured annually based on most common circulating strains  Flu virus mutations can happen slowly (virus “drift”) or suddenly (virus “shift”)  Virus “shift” allows little or no lead time to prepare a vaccine

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 8 Pandemic Influenza Basics Is a pandemic imminent?  Scientists believe it is only a matter of time Why is an influenza pandemic a greater concern than seasonal flu?  Little or no human immunity Increased numbers /populations affected More serious symptoms Higher mortality  Scope and likely rapid spread of disease stretches capabilities of existing healthcare resources  High potential for economic and social disruption

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 9 Historical Facts  Influenza pandemics have occurred for hundreds of years  Three pandemics in the 20 th Century Spanish Flu (1918): 675,000 Americans died, million deaths worldwide Asian Flu (1957): 2 million deaths worldwide Hong Kong Flu (1968): 1 million deaths worldwide

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 10 How Public Health Authorities are Responding to the Pandemic Threat Flu Pandemic of 1918

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 11 U.S. Strategy Three pillars 1. Preparedness and Communication  Identify activities that should be undertaken before a pandemic  Communicate roles and responsibilities to all levels of government, segments of society and individuals 2. Surveillance and Detection  Ensure the earliest warning possible 3.Response and Containment  Limit the spread of disease  Mitigate the health, social and economic impacts

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 12 Influenza Vaccines  Vaccines designed for seasonal influenza will not protect against a pandemic virus  Once pandemic strain is identified, vaccines unlikely to be available for several months

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 13 Pandemic Influenza Planning City of Roseville Pandemic threats and influenzas

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 14 Pandemic Preparedness (we need to look at)  Managers and employees receiving pandemic influenza training?  What will happen if 10%, 30% or 50% of our workforce is absent?  What is our emergency communications plan for pandemic conditions?  Will we work from alternate locations?  Will a pandemic increase or decrease demands for our services?

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 15 Education – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  Exposure assessment considerations  Disposable gloves, outer clothing, shoe covers, eye protection, dust masks, etc.  Disposal of PPE

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 16 Education – Basic Hygiene  Etiquette for sneezing, coughing and blowing nose  Frequent hand washing and use of antiseptic hand wash solution if water is unavailable  Keep hands away from face to prevent spread of germs to vulnerable eyes, nose, and mouth  Reduce/limit use of conference rooms, galleys, and common gathering spaces  Permissive vs. required sick leave

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 17 Education – Simple Concepts  Teach hygiene practices to children and reinforce regularly  Provide information about at-home care of ill employees and family members  Encourage seasonal flu shot to help prevent emergence of new flu strains  Eat well, exercise and practice healthy lifestyle

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 18 Pandemic Influenza Behavioral Concerns

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 19 Catastrophic Events  Produce psychological effects  We can choose our own response – the only control we may have  Response management: Minimizes harm Supports safety May be primary to survival Aids in creating a new “normal”

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 20 EAP Preparedness Services Behavioral preparedness is essential because an emotionally-charged employee poses a safety hazard

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 21 Who Will Help ?

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 22 Behavioral Health Strategies for All Employees Reducing Our Anxiety during the threat  Manage our own fear and uncertainty  Be considerate of each others concerns about families and friends  Communicate; repeat information  Be visible; assess how we as employees are doing  Schedule frequent briefings, even if no new information is available Stay in Balance  Maintain focus on what you can control  Get involved in helping  Practice stress management  Engage in healthy self care activities  Maintain established routine  Contact the EAP if worry interferes with your life

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 23 What NOT To Do  Don’t assume assistance will be available during a pandemic  Don’t purchase influenza prevention products or implement prevention strategies that are not approved by the FDA or public health authorities  Don’t assume that if the avian flu pandemic is avoided in the next year, the threat has passed  Don’t underestimate the likely global impact of a pandemic

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 24 SUMMARY - What To Do  Educate yourself about pandemics, influenza and prevention strategies  Plan for an influenza pandemic  Use planning resources:  Update/communicate plans  Manage stress, anxiety and fear  Know how others can help

Pandemic Threats: “Am I dead yet?” Travelocity Gnome 25 healthy bodies sound minds a safe place to work Finance will not = fun during a Pandemic Threat