Adapted from Huron County

Health Unit

What you should

know about Pandemic Influenza

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

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 LGL Counties be affected?How will LGL Counties be affected?

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

pandemic?pandemic?

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

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 pandemic

Progress of a pandemic

Progress of a pandemic

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 new It often “makes mistakes” – creating a new

virusvirusThis “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 antibodies to the “old” flu People who have antibodies to the “old” flu

virus won’t be immune to the new onevirus won’t be immune to the new one

INFLUENZA VIRUSINFLUENZA VIRUSNeuraminidase (N)

Hemagglutinin (H)

What’s the difference

between ordinary 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: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”

This kind of flu:This kind of 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.

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

ANSWER:ANSWER:B.B. Pandemic fluPandemic flu

Ordinary flu usually occurs each year from Ordinary flu usually occurs each year from November to April, then stops.November to April, then stops.

Pandemic flu could happen any time of Pandemic flu could happen any time of year.year.

This kind of flu:This kind of flu:

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

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

ANSWER:A.A. Ordinary fluOrdinary flu

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.

This kind of flu:This kind of flu:

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.

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

ANSWER:A.A. Ordinary fluOrdinary flu

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.

This kind of flu:This kind of flu:

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

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

A.A. Ordinary fluOrdinary 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.

ANSWER:ANSWER:

This kind of flu:This kind of flu:

Has no vaccineHas no vaccine

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

ANSWER:ANSWER:B.B. Pandemic fluPandemic flu

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

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

How will LGL Counties be 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 for 4 to 6 monthsNo vaccine available for 4 to 6 monthsLimited amount of anti-viral drugs Limited amount of anti-viral drugs

available available

How will LGL Counties be affected?

35% of people will get sick (worst case 35% of people will get sick (worst case scenario) with the fluscenario) with the flu About 59,674 peopleAbout 59,674 people

About ½ of those people will require About ½ of those people will require medical attention (need to see their medical attention (need to see their doctor, walk-in clinic, flu centre)doctor, walk-in clinic, flu centre) About 31,733 peopleAbout 31,733 people

Between 374 and 1,157 people will need Between 374 and 1,157 people will need to be hospitalizedto be hospitalized

Between 113 and 293 people will dieBetween 113 and 293 people will die

Based on 2006 Ministry of Health estimates

How will LGL Counties be affected?

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 doing to prepare?

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

LGL Tri-County Health Plan for an Influenza LGL Tri-County Health Plan for an Influenza PandemicPandemic

Town / Municipalities Town / Municipalities Emergency PlansEmergency Plans

Personal Emergency Plans Personal Emergency Plans for people living in LGL for people living in LGL CountiesCounties

LGL Health Care Providers LGL Health Care Providers & Businesses & Businesses Emergency / Pandemic Emergency / Pandemic PlansPlans

Leeds, Grenville, & Lanark Leeds, Grenville, & Lanark District Health Unit District Health Unit Pandemic Influenza PlanPandemic Influenza Plan

How can I prepare for pandemic flu?

Get informed and stay informedGet informed and stay informedThink about your daily routines – have Think about your daily routines – have

backup plansbackup plansPrepare a supply of water, food and Prepare a supply of water, food and

medicine at homemedicine at homeKeep useful #’s and health info handy Keep useful #’s and health info handy

(check out www.pandemic.cpha.ca)(check out www.pandemic.cpha.ca)Share your ideasShare your ideas

How can I protect myself from pandemic flu?

Make a habit of good hand cleaning Make a habit of good hand cleaning -- Try not to touch your nose, mouth -- Try not to touch your nose, mouth and eyesand eyes

Cover your sneeze / coughCover your sneeze / coughGet a flu shot every yearGet a flu shot every yearStay home if you’re sick and learn Stay home if you’re sick and learn

how to treat the flu at homehow to treat the flu at homeKnow when to get medical helpKnow when to get medical help

Stay InformedWeb-SitesWeb-Sites LGL District Health Unit LGL District Health Unit www.healthunit.org 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.ca Public Health Agency of Canada WebsitePublic Health Agency of Canada Website www.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.gov

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

Stay Informed

Free telephone adviceFree telephone advice

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

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

Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit toll free #Unit toll free # 1-800-660-1-800-660-58535853

Any Questions?Any Questions?For more info, contact:

Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit458 Laurier Blvd., Brockville, ON K6V 7A3

613 345-5685 or 1 800 660-5853www.healthunit.org

Adapted from Huron County Health Unit