The Vermont Department of Health Overview of Pandemic Influenza Regional Pandemic Planning Summits 2006 Guidance Support Prevention Protection

The Vermont Department of Health Topics Definitions Potential Impacts of an Influenza Pandemic Overview of Vermont’s Pandemic Response Plan

The Vermont Department of Health Definitions

The Vermont Department of Health Seasonal Influenza Human illness Occurs “seasonally” Fall/winter/spring Vaccine available Most people have uncomplicated illness, though there are severe consequences: 36,000 deaths/year in U.S. Over 100,000 hospitalizations/year in U.S.

The Vermont Department of Health Avian Influenza Illness in birds Domestic and wild (migratory) Usually with different strains of the virus than what are found in humans Humans rarely can get infected/ill: Risk associated with close contact to infected birds or their contaminated environments H5N1 one example

The Vermont Department of Health Pandemic Influenza A “Pandemic” is a global disease outbreak For an influenza pandemic to occur: A new type of the influenza virus Most or all of the population susceptible Virus easily spread person to person Widespread illness and death The first two conditions are met with H5N1

The Vermont Department of Health Pandemic Influenza 20 th Century Influenza Pandemics: 1918 “Spanish flu”  20 – 100 million deaths worldwide –500,000 deaths U.S “Asian flu” 1968 “Hong Kong flu”

The Vermont Department of Health Potential Impacts of an Influenza Pandemic

The Vermont Department of Health Impact of the Next Pandemic Simultaneous and sustained impact across U.S. and globally: Pandemic unlike other emergencies where we can rely on others to respond Disruptions in essential services: Up to 40% of the population may be out due to illness, the need to take care of others, or fear

The Vermont Department of Health Impact of the Next Pandemic Likely shortages in vaccine and antiviral drugs: May need to rely heavily on more traditional prevention measures Overwhelming numbers of people ill and dead

The Vermont Department of Health Potential Impact on Vermont ModerateSevere Illness186,000 Outpatient visits93,000 Hospitalization1,86018,600 ICU care Mechanical ventilation1401,395 Deaths3723,720

The Vermont Department of Health Overview of Vermont’s Pandemic Response Plan

The Vermont Department of Health Disease Surveillance and Investigation Detect cases, identify risk factors for severe disease and death and monitor the outbreak: To aide in the implement of prevention and control measures To ensure appropriate use of vaccine/antiviral medications and other limited resources To advise the public and policy makers To evaluate prevention and control measures

The Vermont Department of Health Procurement, Distribution and Use of Antivirals Procure, distribute and use antiviral medications to: Treat and/or prevent disease Limited amount of antiviral medications will mean targeting use to key groups

The Vermont Department of Health Procurement, Distribution and Use of Vaccine Procure, distribute and use vaccine to: Prevent disease Limited amount of vaccine will mean targeting use to key groups

The Vermont Department of Health Community Disease Prevention and Control Implement non-medical interventions to reduce the transmission of the virus: “Social Distancing”:  Closing schools, canceling mass gatherings, etc. Promoting effective behaviors:  Hand hygiene  Respiratory etiquette Implementing isolation and quarantine:  Limited to the very early stage of a pandemic

The Vermont Department of Health Supporting Activities/Plans Mass Clinic Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Epidemiology Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Health Alert Network Behavioral Health Others