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**Influenza
* Pandemic Flu * Avian Flu * Seasonal Flu * Influenza**
What
is Pandemic Flu? -
A virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic,
of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity,
the disease can spread easily from person to person. Currently,
there is no Pandemic Flu.
What
is Avian (Bird) Flu? - An influenza
virus (H5N1) transmitted from birds to humans. Flu viruses occur
naturally among birds and most often are "low pathogenic,"
causing few problems. The H5N1 virus is different. It is highly
pathogenic and is deadly to other birds. There is no human immunity
against to H5N1 avian flu. The H5N1 avian flu has been known to
be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected
birds and has been contracted by an estimated 385 persons worldwide,
of whom 243 have died.
What
is Seasonal (Common) Flu? - A
respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person.
It is estimated 80-90% of flu-related deaths each year involve
the elderly. Most people have some immunity to the flu and effective
vaccines are available.
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Global
Cycle of Avian Influenza
by
the US Geological Survey
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View Potential Pathways
of the Avian Influenza to North America
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The
USGS reports that while no highly
pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in the US, several
hundred low pathogenic avian flu viruses have been isolated during
the surveillance program, as expected.
These viruses are commonly found in wild birds and their detection
provides scientists with data that greatly improves our understanding
of the role that wild birds play in the global movement of avian
influenza.
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View
:
As of June 2008, 385 cases of Avian
Flu have been identified worldwide, resulting in 243 deaths Cases
to Date
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This
Issue:
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I.
World Health Organization -- WHO Revises the Pandemic Influenza
Preparedness Guidance (report)
WHO
offers good news in an update on the drafting process. Since
2005, experts, scientists, researchers and governmental /NGO representatives
have made many advances in the knowledge base about pandemic influenza.
This includes new knowledge regarding vaccine development, diagnostics,
drug interventions and a better understanding of viruses (virology).
Lessons from the SARS outbreak in 2003 have been integrated into
the knowledge base as well enhancing our ability to respond more
effectively in an outbreak.
- Antiviral
drug stockpiles have been built worldwide
- Protocols
are in place to better address pandemic flu at inception
- Additional
vaccines are under development
- Preparedness
efforts have created collaborations between health and non-health
sectors that had not been in place before.
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II.
Community Response & Seniors
Pre-planning
is critical to the success of stopping the spread of the virus or
lessening the impact of the virus if it spreads. The CDC has issued
guidance for mitigating the effects of a pandemic influenza outbreak
at the community level, principally using non-pharmaceutical interventions.
Reference: CDC full report Interim
Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance
Non-pharmaceutical
interventions can slow down the spread of an outbreak, lessen its
effects on the population and shorten the duration of an outbreak.
View the CDC Summary
of the Community Mitigation Strategy. Intervention recommendations
by setting are made according to Pandemic Severity. Interventions
include social distancing, sheltering in-place for as long as two
weeks to three months (if infectious children live in the household)
and effective business responses that support staff who are ill
or living with ill family members to stay away from work until all
infectious opportunity to spread the flu is eliminated.
For
seniors, a concern is the ability to receive care at
home during an outbreak. One-third of individuals who live alone
in the US are over age 65. Forty-one percent of those have indicated
they would not have anyone to care for them, according to a Harvard
School of Public Health survey. Of even greater concern are the
5% of American seniors who are "frail elderly". Many of
them may have no access to support, caregiving or meals delivered
at-home as staffing shortages would create obstacles and limit the
response capability of Elderly Nutritional Programs (ENP). ENP are
the main source of nutrition for up to 3 million elderly annually
and any obstacle to regular delivery could cause serious harm to
frail and isolated elderly.
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click
image for larger pdf document
The
key elements to include in community pre-planning:
- Plan
for ill individuals to remain home
- Plan
for household members of a person who is ill to voluntarily remain
home
- Plan
for dismissal of students or school closures and child care facilities
- Prepare
your organization (See organizational planning below)
- Plan
for workplace and community social distancing measures
- Communicate
with your employees, staff members, volunteers
- Help
your community
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III.
Federal Planning
The
federal government has issued national strategies in the event of
a pandemic outbreak.
The
federal government has distributed antiviral stockpiles to every
state based on a percentage of its population. The target was to
stockpile up to a 25% supply of antivirals based on each state's
population. A portion was allocated by the federal government and
the remaining is to be funded and allocated by state governments.
Many states have reached their portion of the allocation and many
have not. Kentucky has reached 50% of its target allocation.
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VI.
Vaccine Prioritization
New guidance
has been issued from the Department of Homeland Security and the
Department of Health and Human Services regarding recommendations
for targeting specific population groups to receive access to vaccines
according to a priority ranking in the event of an outbreak of pandemic
influenza. Healthy seniors have been listed as priority Tier 4 in
the event of a severe pandemic and Tiers 3 and 2, respectively,
in a moderate or less severe outbreak. Emergency responders, healthcare
workers, government workers, persons responsible for ensuring continuity
of essential services as well as pregnant women and infants and
toddlers are included in Tiers 1-3. This underscores the need for
individual, family and community pre-planning for service provision
to seniors in a pandemic.
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