1. Pandemic H1N1 Response Overview
Michael J. Fielding
Chief of Emergency Preparedness
Columbus Public Health

2. 3 Areas of Discussion
I. Local health department (LHD) plans for the fall
II. How businesses should be preparing
III. Roles that businesses may be asked to play

3. I. LHD Plans for the Fall

4. Local Health Departments
Columbus Public Health (CPH)
Responsible for the cities of Columbus and Worthington
Approximately 400 employees
Franklin County Board of Health (FCBH)
Responsible for the remainder of the county
Approximately 65 employees

5. Responding to an Emergency
In the event of a Public Health (PH) emergency:
CPH and FCBH respond together
Incident Command System (ICS) is activated
PH may be the lead responder, but is just part of a community wide response

6. Incident Command System (ICS)

7. 7 Functions of Pan Flu Response
Epidemiology and Surveillance
Clinical Guidelines
Measures to Limit the Spread of Disease
Distribution of Antivirals and Vaccines
Education and Training
Communications
Health Systems and Critical Infrastructure

8. 1. Epidemiology and Surveillance
Monitor 85 data and healthcare sources
Emergency Department visits
Over the counter medicine sales
School absenteeism
Analyze data
Report surveillance results

9. 2. Clinical Guidelines
Receive credible source information from Epidemiology and Surveillance
Assess credible sources for changes in:
Medical
Process
Send clinical guidelines to function leaders
Oversee clinical portion of hotline

10. 3. Measures to Limit the Spread of Disease
Community Containment and Referral
Monitor all community containment data
Advise command staff regarding triggers
Case and Contact Investigation
Look for epidemiological links in case data
Conduct case and contact investigation
Facilitate lab testing

11. 4. Distribution of Antivirals and Vaccines
Monitor local and state caches
Request, receive Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) assets
Distribute and transport SNS assets
Coordinate operations at Points of Distribution (PODS)

12. 5. Education and Training
Receive education and presentation requests
Conduct education and trainings for organizations and groups
Conduct Just in Time (JIT) trainings for staff and volunteers
Provide materials for release

13. 6. Communications Represent PH in the Joint Information Center
Create messages for a variety of outlets
Develop press releases and update websites
Set up hotlines

14. 7. Health Systems and Critical Infrastructure
Coordinates planning and response efforts between local agencies
Ensure that public health goals are represented
Critical Infrastructure
Activate COOP plans for affected organizations

15. II. How Businesses Should be Preparing

16. To Keep in Mind…
The amount and severity of illness that H1N1 and seasonal influenza will cause during the 2009–2010 season cannot be predicted with a high degree of certainty.
Seasonal influenza viruses may cause illness at the same time as 2009 H1N1 this fall and winter.

17. Four Basic Objectives Reduce transmission among staff
Protect people who are at increased risk of influenza related complications from getting infected with influenza
Maintain business operations
Minimize adverse effects on other entities in supply chains.

18. Key Indicators for Decision Making
Disease prevalence and severity where business is located
Amount of worker absenteeism in your business
Impact of disease on vulnerable and higher risk employees
pregnant women, employees with certain chronic medical conditions
Other factors that may affect employees’ ability to get to work
School dismissals, closures

19. Actions Employers Should Take Now
Review or establish a flexible influenza pandemic plan and involve your employees in developing and reviewing your plan
Conduct a focused discussion or exercise using your plan to identify gaps or issues
Understand your organization’s normal seasonal absenteeism rates and monitor your personnel for any unusual increases in absenteeism through the fall and winter.

20. Actions (continued)
Confirm local health department channels of communication and methods for dissemination of local outbreak information
Allow sick workers to stay home without fear of losing their jobs
Develop flexible leave policies to allow workers to stay home to care for sick family members or for children in the event of school closure

21. Actions (continued)
Share your pandemic influenza plan and information with employees that explain:
human resources policies
workplace and leave flexibilities
pay and benefits
Share best practices with other businesses in your communities (especially those in your supply chain), chambers of commerce, and associations

22. Pandemic Influenza Plan Elements
Implement a layered approach, with multiple measures, to protect workers and ensure business continuity
Identify possible work-related exposure and health risks to your employees
Review human resources policies to make sure they are consistent with public health recommendations and state and federal workplace laws
Establish policies and practices, such as flexible worksites and flexible work hours

23. Plan Elements (continued)
Identify essential business functions, essential jobs or roles, and critical elements within your supply chains
Set up authorities, triggers, and procedures for activating and deactivating the company’s response plan
Plan to minimize exposure to fellow employees or the public if public health officials call for social distancing
Establish a process to communicate information to workers and business partners

24. 2 Scenarios for 2009-2010 Flu Season
A continuation of the current level of severity of influenza as was observed during the spring and summer of 2009
A more severe outbreak.

25. Scenario 1: Similar Severity
Sick employees should stay home
Sick employees at work should go home
Cover coughs and sneezes
Improve hand hygiene
Clean and sanitize surfaces with frequent hand content

26. Scenario 1: Similar Severity (cont’d)
Encourage employees to get vaccinated
Protect employees at higher risk for complications
Prepare for increased numbers of employee absences
Advise travelling employees to take certain steps
Prepare for the possibility of school dismissal

27. Scenario 2: Increased Severity
Consider active screening of employees who report to work
Consider alternate work environments for those at higher risk for complications
Increase social distancing in the work place
Consider canceling non-essential business travel
Prepare for the possibility of school dismissal

28. III. Roles that businesses may be asked to play

29. Within Your Business…
Promote and ensure a culture of infection control and prevention in the workplace
Post signage
Provide hand sanitizer
Set expectations of hand washing, covering your cough, staying home when ill
Develop home care kits for influenza and emergencies
Host an immunization clinic

30. Assist in the Response…
Encourage employees to participate in volunteer emergency response organizations: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) 
Keep up to date on communication sent through the Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Support and follow LHD guidance
Consider adding company assets to EMA resource lists

31. Resources and Links Local www.columbuspandemicflu.com
National