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Pandemic Influenza – Alberta Prepares

Pandemic Influenza – Alberta Prepares. Safer Communities Forum 2007 Brad Andres, Alberta Emergency Management Agency November 27, 2007. What is Influenza?. Influenza is… A respiratory viral infection Its typical signs and symptoms: fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches, cough

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Pandemic Influenza – Alberta Prepares

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  1. Pandemic Influenza – Alberta Prepares Safer Communities Forum 2007 Brad Andres, Alberta Emergency Management Agency November 27, 2007

  2. What is Influenza? • Influenza is… • A respiratory viral infection • Its typical signs and symptoms: fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches, cough • Its complications: pulmonary or cardiac, more severe in the elderly, persons with chronic conditions, newborns and infants • It transmits easily from person to person, either by droplets, or close contact

  3. What is Pandemic Influenza? Pandemic -an epidemic over a large area e.g. country, continent, world Pandemic Influenza - is a new virus that causes severe illness and spreads easily between people

  4. History of Influenza Pandemics • Since 1500s influenza pandemics have occurred 3-4 times per century • 3 influenza pandemics occurred in the last century: • Spanish Flu of 1918 (H1N1); • Asian Flu of 1957 (H2N2); and • Hong Kong Flu of 1968 (H3N2). • Each pandemic is different and varies in the degree of severity.

  5. Avian Influenza Why is it so important? • 1997, Hong Kong: A new avian influenza virus (H5N1)… • …then another wave in 2003… • …then another wave in 2004… • …then declared endemic in the bird population since December 2004. • Humans can get infected with the avian (bird) strain, yet rarely. • No significant human to human transmission of this bird strain… yet.

  6. Avian Influenza

  7. Human Cases .

  8. Kitchen in Rural China

  9. Current Pandemic Risk for H5N1 • Susceptible human population • Novel virus in avian and animal populations • Virus is infectious for humans • Virus is highly pathogenic (high mortality) • Efficient human-to-human spread

  10. Alberta’s Preparedness Strategy A ‘health’ emergency that can turn into a ‘general’ emergency – impact to society as a whole A cross-ministry response is required to ensure the Government of Alberta (GOA) and the province is adequately prepared and able to respond to a pandemic.

  11. Coordinated Responses • Health Response Objectives: • Reducing influenza illness and death • Minimizing societal disruption among Albertans by providing access to appropriate prevention, care and treatment • GoA Operations Response Objectives • Supporting delivery of government’s essential services • Supporting the Health Response • Supporting the societal response – working with external stakeholders

  12. Pandemic influenza is inevitable – projecting 1 – 3 yrs. Will arrive in Canada within 3 months after it appears in the world Will last 12 – 18 months; expecting 2 – 3 waves of 6 – 8 weeks each Transmission by large droplet and contact (not airborne) Can spread 24 hours before the start of symptoms and 5 - 7 days after Course of illness (without complications) is 5 – 7 days Health Planning Assumptions

  13. Health Planning Assumptions • Impact unpredictable in timing, severity of illness, and age groups affected; novel virus strain, therefore most people will be susceptible regardless of age • A majority of the population (over 70%) may become infected over the course of the pandemic but 15 – 35% of the population will become clinically ill (i.e. unable to attend work or other activities for at least half a day).

  14. Health Response Plan

  15. Alberta’s Pandemic Influenza Plan (APIP) • Guides and coordinates activities for use by AHW in partnership with regional health authorities • Operational focus • Outlines mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery actions • Synchronized with the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan • Coordinates with the GOA Pandemic Influenza Operations Plan. • RHAs also have pandemic plans

  16. Regional Health AuthorityPlanning • Provide the local health response by: • Providing frontline service delivery • Delivering vaccine and antivirals • Collecting and reporting regional surveillance data • Reallocating/deploying resources when necessary • RHA-specific communication to the public and health professionals • Coordinating with municipal and local stakeholders

  17. Government of Alberta’sOperational Response Planning

  18. Provincial PlanningMinistry Role withClients/Stakeholders • Each ministry needs to maintain its links to its stakeholders. • Joint discussions on pandemic topics and the potential impacts. • Do its utmost (in line with its Business Continuity Plan) to manage its personnel to keep ministry critical and vital services running.

  19. Provincial Planning Essential Industries • Essential Industries • Electrical Production & Distribution • Oil & Gas Production & Distribution • Food Production & Distribution • Transportation • Water Control & Infrastructure • Finance • Telecommunications • Mortuary Services

  20. Role of Municipalities & Communities • Ensure local essential services are maintained – Fire, Police, EMS/Ambulance • Coordinate pandemic planning with the health authorities. • Support the local health response as much as possible. • Coordinate with GOA through usual emergency channels.

  21. Municipal Preparations

  22. Coordination of Emergency Powers • Public Health Act • Emergency Management Act • If there is a conflict ...

  23. Municipal and Regional Health Authority Plans • Municipality • Police • EMS • Fire • Utilities • Regional Health Authority • Hospital • Emergency Health Care

  24. Communications • Focused on pan –province issues • Reinforces that Municipalities and Regional Health Authorities are the first line of defense and response. • Preparedness messaging

  25. Personal and Family Preparedness MessageHealth • Hand hygiene is a key strategy to prevent the spread of infection • Self care strategy developed • Annual flu immunization • Wash your hands • Cover your cough • Stay well • Stay home if ill • Be prepared

  26. Personal and Family Preparedness MessageEmergencies • Individual and Family Preparedness • Guide prepares you for all hazard emergencies • Municipal response can take up to 72 hours to get mobilized

  27. QUESTIONS? • Contacts: • Health Link Call Centre - 1-866-408-5465 • Service Alberta Call Centre – 310 4455 • Websites: • http://www.health.alberta.ca/influenza/pandemic.html • http://www.aema.alberta.ca/ • http://www.influenza.gc.ca/index_e.html

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