Pandemic Flu

Putting a Plan into Place

This material was produced under grant number SH-17035-08-60-F-11 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.

These materials do not necessarily reflect views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of any trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Definitions

• Epidemic – disproportionately large number of

individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time

• Pandemic– occurring over a wide geographic area

and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population

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Fast Facts

• 30,000 people die every year from influenza or complications of influenza.

• Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes up to 2 hours or more on fomites.

• Addressing the spread of germs in schools and colleges is essential.– n

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Modes of Transmission

• Droplets• Airborne particles• Fomites

VaccinationCulture

Fewer than 50% get vaccinated now

VaccinationCulture

Fewer than 50% get vaccinated now

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Good Health Habits for Preventing Seasonal Flu

• Vaccination is the single best way to prevent the flu

• Other habits include:– Avoid close contact (social distancing)– Stay home when you are sick– Cover your mouth and nose– Avoid touching your eyes, nose or

mouth– Wash your hands – soap & water (or

alcohol gel)– Practice other good health habits

Influenza Pandemics 20th Century

A(H1N1) A(H2N2) A(H3N2)

1918: “Spanish Flu” 1957: “Asian Flu” 1968: “Hong Kong Flu”

50 - 100 M deaths

>1 M US deaths1-4 M deaths

~70,000 US deaths

1-4 M deaths

~34,000 US deaths

Credit: US National Museum of Health and Medicine

Avian influenza (H5N1)

• 285 cases with 170 deaths, representing a case-fatality rate of 59%

• Indonesia, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Turkey, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Egypt

• Almost all cases with direct contact with poultry, no confirmed human to human cases

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H5N1 Avian InfluenzaVs.

Pandemic Influenza

Pandemic Flu

• Global outbreak of human disease

• Caused by a new influenza virus - people will not have any natural immunity

• Is inevitable

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Potential Consequences of a Pandemic Today

• High mortality rates & long-term medical problems

• Limited amounts of medications and vaccines

• Events will quickly overwhelm local & state resources

• Travel restrictions & reduction of airline flights

• Quarantine of geographic areas

In the first 6 weeks of a pandemic – worst case

• 1.2 million people are infected

• 245,000 - 612,000 are clinically ill

• 180,000 - 470,000 outpatient medical visits

• 24,436 – 57,216 people are hospitalized

• Up to 11,500 people are dead

In the first 6 weeks of a pandemic – worst case

• 1.2 million people are infected

• 245,000 - 612,000 are clinically ill

• 180,000 - 470,000 outpatient medical visits

• 24,436 – 57,216 people are hospitalized

• Up to 11,500 people are dead

• 40% Healthcare Workers Ill• 90 million cases of influenza• 10 million hospitalizations• 1.48 million i.c. patients• 745,000 patients needing

ventilators

Pandemic Impact

Health Care System• Extreme staffing shortages

• Shortage of beds, facility space, supplies

• Hospital morgues, Medical Examiner and mortuary services overwhelmed

Infrastructure• Significant disruption of transportation, public works,

commerce, utilities, energy, and communications, emergency response

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Pandemic Impact – Business and Government

• High absenteeism

• Significant threat to continuity of government

• Challenges getting to / from worksite

• Psychological impacts on workforce will be extreme

• Economic losses will be long term

• Schools and colleges will be closed

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School Planning and Preparation

• DHHS pandemic check lists

• Pandemic influenza preparedness – incorporating into existing emergency preparedness plans

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Elements of School Pandemic Plan• Incident command structure at each

school

• Procedures for communicating:– with public health officials– With parents, staff on school closures

• Procedure for sending ill individuals home

• Education and training

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Key Union Issues!

• What is your school district or college’s plan?

– Has the union been involved in the planning process?

• Union issues:– Pay and benefits– Essential

personnel– Use of sick time– Worker

protection– Distance

learning– Education and

training

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Protections at Work:

• OSHA Recommends that Employers Encourage Staff to:

– Stay at home when sick.

– Wash their hands frequently with soap and water or with hand sanitizer if there is no soap or water available.

– Avoid touching their noses, mouths, and eyes.

– Cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or to cough and sneeze into their upper sleeves if tissues are not available.

– Practice social distancing by maintaining a separation of at least 6 feet from other staff, students and the public.

Taking Care of Yourself: Airborne Protection

• CDC recommends at a minimum a N-95, N-99 or N-100 disposable respirator

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Protections at Work: Other Recommendations• Sink locations and restrooms should be stocked with soap, paper

towels or working hand dryers.

• Commonly touched surfaces such as door handles, handrails, eating surfaces, desks, etc., should be cleaned at least daily. Standard cleaning products are adequate (including soap and water), most important is the frequency of cleaning.

• Children with symptoms should be sent to the nurse to be sent home, if possible.

• Promote healthy lifestyles, including good nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation. A person's overall health impacts their body's immune system and can affect their ability to fight off, or recover from, an infectious disease.

What’s in

Your Plan?

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