pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring PREPARING FOR AN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring What is an Influenza Pandemic Pandemic – a rapid spread of a severe human disease that occurs world-wide and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. 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 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 Why Talk About This Now? Health officials warn of the potential for an influenza pandemic Health officials warn of the potential for an influenza pandemic Based on historical knowledge of past pandemics andBased on historical knowledge of past pandemics and Concern about the possibility of a new strain of human influenza that we have no natural immunity againstConcern 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 Why talk about this now, cont’d Economists warn of the potential impact of pandemic influenza on individual businesses and on the economy worldwide Economists warn of the potential impact of pandemic influenza on individual businesses and on the economy worldwide Pandemic preparation is an important business issue Pandemic preparation is an important business issue

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Previous Influenza Pandemics in the 20 th Century 1918: “Spanish Flu” 1918: “Spanish Flu” million deaths 1957: “Asian Flu” 1957: “Asian Flu” 1 million deaths 1968: “Hong Kong Flu” 1968: “Hong Kong Flu” 1 million deaths

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Pandemic Influenza vs Seasonal Influenza Pandemic influenza is different from regular seasonal influenza (flu) Pandemic influenza is different from regular seasonal influenza (flu)

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Seasonal Influenza Seasonal influenza (flu) is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus Seasonal influenza (flu) is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Seasonal Influenza Affects 5-20% of the population Affects 5-20% of the population Occurs every year in winter Occurs every year in winter Causes 4000 deaths in Canada, ½ - 1 million worldwide Causes 4000 deaths in Canada, ½ - 1 million worldwide Most people recover Most people recover Deaths usually occur in high risk groups Deaths usually occur in high risk groups Vaccine effective Vaccine effective

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Pandemic Influenza Occurs when a new strain of an influenza virus develops to which people have little or no immunity 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 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 Pandemic Influenza Occurs 3-4x/century, any season Occurs 3-4x/century, any season Affects 25% or more of the population Affects 25% or more of the population May cause 30-50,000 deaths in Canada, 40 million worldwide May cause 30-50,000 deaths in Canada, 40 million worldwide More severe illness More severe illness Deaths may hit all age groups Deaths may hit all age groups No vaccine for up to 4-6 months No vaccine for up to 4-6 months Antivirals limited, effectiveness unclear Antivirals limited, effectiveness unclear

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Pandemic Influenza Spreads rapidly Spreads rapidly Occurs in waves, approximately 3-9 months apart Occurs in waves, approximately 3-9 months apart First wave will last approximately 4-6 weeks First wave will last approximately 4-6 weeks 2 nd and 3 rd wave may be more severe 2 nd and 3 rd wave may be more severe May occur over a 1-2 year period May occur over a 1-2 year period

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Pandemic Influenza - Symptoms Headache, chills, cough Headache, chills, cough Fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation Fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation Vomiting and diarrhea may occur, especially in children Vomiting and diarrhea may occur, especially in children

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Pandemic Influenza - Spread Spread through droplets that have been coughed or sneezed into the air by someone who is infected Spread through droplets that have been coughed or sneezed into the air by someone who is infected Can spread for up to 24 hrs before onset of symptoms Can spread for up to 24 hrs before onset of symptoms And can still infect others for 3-5 days after getting sick And can still infect others for 3-5 days after getting sick

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring You can get it by Breathing in the droplets through your nose or mouth or if they land on your eyes Breathing in the droplets through your nose or mouth or if they land on your eyes Shaking hands with infected people and then touching your nose, eyes or mouth Shaking hands with infected people and then touching your nose, eyes or mouth Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your nose, eyes or mouth Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your nose, eyes or mouth

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring What You Can Do Improve your overall health Improve your overall health Consider getting an annual flu shot Consider getting an annual flu shot Wash hands regularly with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol based wipes 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 What you can also do Cough and sneeze into tissue or your sleeve to avoid droplet spread Cough and sneeze into tissue or your sleeve to avoid droplet spread Throw away tissues promptly Throw away tissues promptly Frequently clean and disinfect household and work space surfaces Frequently clean and disinfect household and work space surfaces Stay at home when sick Stay at home when sick Avoid visiting people who have influenza if you can Avoid visiting people who have influenza if you can

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring And…. Don’t share eating utensils or drinks Don’t share eating utensils or drinks Refrain from putting out unwrapped candy/snacks in the office Refrain from putting out unwrapped candy/snacks in the office Encourage family, friends, and colleagues to follow these practices Encourage family, friends, and colleagues to follow these practices

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Pandemic Influenza – Vaccine/antivirals Use and distribution will be determined by public health officials Use and distribution will be determined by public health officials Vaccine will take approximately 4-6 months to prepare once the strain has been identified Vaccine will take approximately 4-6 months to prepare once the strain has been identified Work on a national strategy for antiviral use is ongoing Work on a national strategy for antiviral use is ongoing

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Pandemic Influenza – Impact on Business High absenteeism High absenteeism Employees may die Employees may die Travel may be restricted Travel may be restricted Supply chains may be interrupted Supply chains may be interrupted Fewer customers Fewer customers Financial losses/business failures Financial losses/business failures Unemployment may occur Unemployment may occur

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Pandemic Influenza – Impact on Health Care System Health services may be overwhelmed Health services may be overwhelmed About 2-5 million may need outpatient care About 2-5 million may need outpatient care About 34,000 to 138,000 needing hospitalization About 34,000 to 138,000 needing hospitalization About 11,000 to 58,000 deaths About 11,000 to 58,000 deaths Costs: about $330million to $1.4 billion Costs: about $330million to $1.4 billion

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring Pandemic Influenza – Social Effects Fear of close proximity to people Fear of close proximity to people Stress due to dealing with illness, deaths, quarantine, loss of employment, financial loss Stress due to dealing with illness, deaths, quarantine, loss of employment, financial loss Possible closures of public venues, schools Possible closures of public venues, schools Interruption of critical community services Interruption of critical community services Estimated costs (loss of productivity) $5-38 billion Estimated costs (loss of productivity) $5-38 billion

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring When will we know it’s here? The World Health Organization (WHO) will officially declare a pandemic influenza outbreak The World Health Organization (WHO) will officially declare a pandemic influenza outbreak Federal and Provincial/Territorial Public Health Officials will issue advisories Federal and Provincial/Territorial Public Health Officials will issue advisories

pandemic influenza planning tool kit for business/employers, dev'd spring So…Be Prepared Plan for yourself and your family Plan for yourself and your family Be aware of pandemic influenza plans in your workplace Be aware of pandemic influenza plans in your workplace