Preparing for an influenza pandemic

 

Influenza (the flu) is a common virus that is present in our community primarily on a seasonal basis. A pandemic is an unusually high occurrence of an infectious disease that spreads rapidly over a large geographic area – potentially worldwide.

 

Influenza pandemics have the capacity to cause serious illness and death because people have little or no immunity to the circulating strains of influenza. Historically, influenza pandemics have occurred about every 35 – 40 years. Although there is no way to predict when the next influenza pandemic will occur, many health experts believe that it is overdue and planning should take place to deal with such an emergency.

 

Renfrew County & District Health Unit (RCDHU) began pandemic influenza planning in June 2004, and completed a written plan in 2006. The Renfrew County and District Pandemic Influenza Plan is aligned with existing provincial and federal guidelines, regulations and directions. It was developed in accordance with the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan, the Ontario Health Pandemic Influenza Plan and other key documents. To plan for an effective local emergency response, we also sought input from local stakeholders in the health, education, emergency planning, social service, volunteer, and community sectors.

 

Two of the areas addressed in the Renfrew County and District Pandemic Influenza Plan are outlined below.

 

Communication is an important aspect of outbreak and crisis management. Clear, concise and timely messages from a credible source will be critical before, during and after an influenza pandemic. RCDHU will be the lead organization for communications with the public and health professionals within Renfrew County and District. Our communications will be supported by information from provincial, national and international sources as well as local hospitals, long-term care homes and municipal leaders.

 

Public health measures are non-medical interventions that may be used to reduce the spread of the influenza virus. Public health measures include public education, case and contact management, community-based disease control strategies (e.g. school closures and restriction/cancellation of large public gatherings), and travel restrictions. The type of public health measures used will depend on the characteristics of the virus (e.g. the severity of the illness it causes, how it is transmitted, the proportion of the population in different age groups that fall ill, etc). The Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with other levels of government, will be responsible for decisions regarding the implementation of community-based disease control strategies in order to protect the public.

 

The Renfrew County and District Pandemic Influenza Plan is available on our website: http://rcdhu.com/Pandemic%20Flu%20Plan/Index.htm.