what you should know about pandemic influenza “don’t you think you’re taking this influenza...

What you should What you should know know about about

Pandemic InfluenzaPandemic Influenza

““DON’T YOU THINK YOU’RE TAKING THIS INFLUENZA TOO DON’T YOU THINK YOU’RE TAKING THIS INFLUENZA TOO SERIOUSLY?”SERIOUSLY?”

What we’ll cover:What we’ll cover:

What is pandemic influenza & how does it What is pandemic influenza & how does it

start?start?

What’s the difference between the What’s the difference between the

“ordinary” flu and pandemic flu?“ordinary” flu and pandemic flu?

How will Huron County be affected?How will Huron County be affected?

What are people doing to prepare for What are people doing to prepare for

pandemic?pandemic?

What can I do to protect myself?What can I do to protect myself?

What is a “pandemic?What is a “pandemic?

It’s about scope – world-wide epidemicIt’s about scope – world-wide epidemicSpreads easily & quicklySpreads easily & quicklyAcross many regions / countries of the Across many regions / countries of the

worldworldAffects a large percentage of people Affects a large percentage of people

where it hitswhere it hitsOften the effects are more severe than Often the effects are more severe than

usual (makes people more severely ill, usual (makes people more severely ill, more deaths)more deaths)

Progress of a pandemicProgress of a pandemic

How does a pandemic start?How does a pandemic start?

The influenza virus changes every yearThe influenza virus changes every yearFlu viruses multiply when they infect the Flu viruses multiply when they infect the

host (people, birds, pigs)host (people, birds, pigs)It often “makes mistakes” – creating a It often “makes mistakes” – creating a

new virusnew virusThis “new” virus sometimes spreads more This “new” virus sometimes spreads more

easily or can cause more severe illnesseasily or can cause more severe illnessPeople who have anti-bodies to the “old” People who have anti-bodies to the “old”

flu virus won’t be immune to the new oneflu virus won’t be immune to the new one

INFLUENZA VIRUSINFLUENZA VIRUSNeuraminidase (N)

Hemagglutinin (H)

What’s the What’s the

differencedifference

between ordinary flubetween ordinary flu

and pandemic flu?and pandemic flu?

This kind of flu:This kind of flu:

Happens ever year.Happens ever year.

A.A. Ordinary FluOrdinary Flu B.B. Pandemic FluPandemic Flu

ANSWER:ANSWER:A.A. Ordinary fluOrdinary flu

Pandemic Flu happens only 2 or 3 Pandemic Flu happens only 2 or 3 times a century.times a century.

2020thth Century Flu Strains & Century Flu Strains & PandemicsPandemics

1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

H1N1 H1N1

H2N2

H3N2

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


Usually comes in 2 or 3 waves, Usually comes in 2 or 3 waves, several months apart. Each several months apart. Each

wave lasts 2 – 3 months.wave lasts 2 – 3 months.


ANSWER:ANSWER:B.B. Pandemic fluPandemic flu

Ordinary flu is usually around from Ordinary flu is usually around from November to April, then stops.November to April, then stops.

Pandemic flu won’t just happen in the Pandemic flu won’t just happen in the winter.winter.


About 10% of people get sick.About 10% of people get sick.



About 10% of people in Ontario get the About 10% of people in Ontario get the ordinary flu every year.ordinary flu every year.

About 35% of people in Ontario might About 35% of people in Ontario might get pandemic flu over the course of get pandemic flu over the course of

an outbreak.an outbreak.


Is hardest on the very old, the Is hardest on the very old, the very young and people with very young and people with

certain chronic illnesses.certain chronic illnesses.



In pandemic flu, people of any age In pandemic flu, people of any age may become seriously ill, may become seriously ill, depending on the virus.depending on the virus.


Has drugs that people can take Has drugs that people can take to treat the flu. to treat the flu.



Anti-viral drugs (like Tamiflu) are used Anti-viral drugs (like Tamiflu) are used to treat people with the flu.to treat people with the flu.

They may or may not be effective They may or may not be effective against pandemic flu. against pandemic flu.


Has no vaccineHas no vaccine


ANSWER:ANSWER:B.B. Pandemic fluPandemic flu

There won’t be a vaccine for pandemic flu until There won’t be a vaccine for pandemic flu until after it happens. after it happens.

We need to know what the Pandemic virus looks We need to know what the Pandemic virus looks like to develop a vaccine.like to develop a vaccine.

How will Huron County be How will Huron County be affected?affected?

Impossible to give absolute numbersImpossible to give absolute numbersPlanning estimates are based on:Planning estimates are based on:

A new virus that spreads easilyA new virus that spreads easilyA new virus that causes more severe A new virus that causes more severe

illness than regular fluillness than regular fluNo vaccine available early onNo vaccine available early onLimited amount of anti-viral drugs Limited amount of anti-viral drugs

available early onavailable early on


35% of people will get sick (worst case 35% of people will get sick (worst case scenario) with the fluscenario) with the flu About 22,000 peopleAbout 22,000 people

½ of those people will require medical ½ of those people will require medical attention (need to see their doctor, walk-in attention (need to see their doctor, walk-in clinic)clinic) About 11,000 peopleAbout 11,000 people

Between 112 – 348 people will need to be Between 112 – 348 people will need to be hospitalizedhospitalized

Between 44 and 107 people will dieBetween 44 and 107 people will die

Based on 2006 Ministry of Health estimatesBased on 2006 Ministry of Health estimates


Pandemic flu will spread quicklyPandemic flu will spread quickly Many people will miss work (perhaps as Many people will miss work (perhaps as

many as 1/3)many as 1/3) There will be a large demand for medical There will be a large demand for medical

servicesservices There may be shortages of supplies, There may be shortages of supplies,

services – for individuals and businessesservices – for individuals and businesses Many businesses may close or provide Many businesses may close or provide

only essential servicesonly essential services Public Health may restrict or cancel public Public Health may restrict or cancel public

gatheringsgatherings

What is the health care system What is the health care system doing to prepare?doing to prepare?

Canadian Pandemic Influenza PlanCanadian Pandemic Influenza PlanOntario Pandemic Influenza PlanOntario Pandemic Influenza Plan

Huron County Health Unit Pandemic Influenza Huron County Health Unit Pandemic Influenza PlanPlanHuron County Emergency Huron County Emergency

PlanPlan

Personal Emergency Plans for Personal Emergency Plans for people living in Huron people living in Huron CountyCounty

Huron County Businesses Huron County Businesses Emergency / Pandemic Emergency / Pandemic PlansPlans

Huron County Health Providers Huron County Health Providers Pandemic Plan(s)Pandemic Plan(s)

How can I protect myself from How can I protect myself from pandemic flu?pandemic flu?

Make a habit of good hand-washingMake a habit of good hand-washingCover your sneeze / coughCover your sneeze / coughGet a flu vaccine every yearGet a flu vaccine every yearStay home if you’re sickStay home if you’re sickAvoid large crowds when the Avoid large crowds when the

pandemic comespandemic comesStay informedStay informed

Stay InformedStay Informed

Web-SitesWeb-Sites Influenza Bulletins and fact sheetsInfluenza Bulletins and fact sheets

Ministry of Health and Long Term Care WebsiteMinistry of Health and Long Term Care Website www.health.gov.on.cawww.health.gov.on.ca Public Health Agency of Canada WebsitePublic Health Agency of Canada Website www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/new_e.htmlwww.phac-aspc.gc.ca/new_e.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Website - Website - www.cdc.govwww.cdc.gov Hotline - 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)Hotline - 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

World Health Organization WebsiteWorld Health Organization Website www.who.intwww.who.int

Stay InformedStay Informed

Free telephone adviceFree telephone advice

Telehealth OntarioTelehealth Ontario 1-866-797-00001-866-797-0000

Ministry InfolineMinistry Infoline 1-800-268-1-800-268-11541154

Health Care Providers HotlineHealth Care Providers Hotline 1-866-1-866-212-2272212-2272

Any Questions?Any Questions?

October 20, 2006

For more info contactHuron County Health Unit

77722B London Rd, RR#5, Clinton, ON, N0M 1L0519-482-3416 or 877-837-6143

what you should know about pandemic influenza “don’t you think you’re taking this influenza...

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