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Doctors Earl Fox, Earl Campazzi urge preparations for possible flu pandemic
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By DAVID ROGERS, Daily News Staff Writer
Saturday, April 12, 2008
<!--endtext--><!-- begin _story_inset_and_medium_rect.html vim: set sts=2 ts=2 sw=2 et: --><!--end _story_inset_and_medium_rect.html --><!--begintext-->While it gets less attention than AIDS, prostate cancer and traffic accidents, the flu causes more deaths each year in the United States than any of those causes, according to Dr. Earl Fox, director of the Florida Public Health Institute.
Although influenza is a contributing factor in the deaths of 40,000 to 60,000 U.S. residents each year, individuals and businesses are not prepared for a more potent, widespread influenza strain that could be far more destructive, Fox told guests at a Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce breakfast at The Breakers on Thursday.
Fox, a research professor in epidemiology and public health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, discussed "Pandemics: The New Realities."
The Florida Public Health Institute, in Lantana, was formed by the University of Miami, the Quantum Foundation, the health department and other groups in 2007 to develop an integrated, more collaborative approach to public health services in Palm Beach County.
"Although people still believe there is a very significant possibility that we can and will have an outbreak of avian or bird flu, there is 100 percent assurance we will have a pandemic (global) influenza outbreak at some point in the next few years," Fox said.
The country has experienced three major flu pandemics in the past 100 years. The first of those, in 1918-1919, caused more than 650,000 American deaths and from 30 million to 50 million deaths worldwide, according to the federal government.
The other pandemics, in 1957-1958 and 1968-1969, caused far fewer deaths because of the development of vaccines, Fox said.
"We are due for the next pandemic," Fox said.
That episode will likely last two years, he said.
Fox said it often takes at least six months to develop a flu vaccine. If a strong pandemic were to strike, traditional coping methods would likely prove minimally effective at stopping the spread of the virus, he said.
Fox serves on a pandemic influenza advisory committee for Swiss pharmaceutical giant Hoffman-La Roche, maker of Tamiflu, an oral antiviral drug that reduces the length and severity of the flu.
Most people cannot afford to stay home for an extended amount of time, and face masks are of questionable value, Fox said.
In addition, only limited amounts of antiviral drugs are stockpiled in this country, and certain government agencies are at the top of the list for receiving them. And those antivirals must be used within the first 24 to 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms to be useful, Fox said.
"As you may know, the Florida Legislature decided in its wisdom last year not to buy any antivirals for the State of Florida," Fox said. "There are no stockpiles in Florida."
Individuals can stockpile antiviral medications on their own. They have a shelf life of seven years, Fox said.
Local physician urges plan for businesses
Dr. Earl Campazzi, of Island Medical Care, like Fox recommends that businesses and other organizations develop a contingency plan for flu pandemics that takes into account staffing needs, antiviral drug stocks and on-site infection control supplies, such as hand-cleaning products, masks, gloves and tissues.
He recommends getting an annual flu shot and making sure all family members have a five-day (10-pill) supply of Tamiflu.
"We talk about our local government and local politics, but we always have big daddy, the federal government, to help us," Campazzi said. "If there is a hurricane, the National Guard comes. If there is any foreign threat, we have the military. But here it's affecting the whole country, and we are really going to rely on the county and the town almost exclusively."
Preparing for a flu pandemic is as important as preparing for a hurricane, Campazzi said.
Campazzi distributed copies of a pandemic influenza planning checklist for businesses. The check list is available online at https://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/bus....html.:tiphat: http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/ne...demic0412.html
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By DAVID ROGERS, Daily News Staff Writer
Saturday, April 12, 2008
<!--endtext--><!-- begin _story_inset_and_medium_rect.html vim: set sts=2 ts=2 sw=2 et: --><!--end _story_inset_and_medium_rect.html --><!--begintext-->While it gets less attention than AIDS, prostate cancer and traffic accidents, the flu causes more deaths each year in the United States than any of those causes, according to Dr. Earl Fox, director of the Florida Public Health Institute.
Although influenza is a contributing factor in the deaths of 40,000 to 60,000 U.S. residents each year, individuals and businesses are not prepared for a more potent, widespread influenza strain that could be far more destructive, Fox told guests at a Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce breakfast at The Breakers on Thursday.
Fox, a research professor in epidemiology and public health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, discussed "Pandemics: The New Realities."
The Florida Public Health Institute, in Lantana, was formed by the University of Miami, the Quantum Foundation, the health department and other groups in 2007 to develop an integrated, more collaborative approach to public health services in Palm Beach County.
"Although people still believe there is a very significant possibility that we can and will have an outbreak of avian or bird flu, there is 100 percent assurance we will have a pandemic (global) influenza outbreak at some point in the next few years," Fox said.
The country has experienced three major flu pandemics in the past 100 years. The first of those, in 1918-1919, caused more than 650,000 American deaths and from 30 million to 50 million deaths worldwide, according to the federal government.
The other pandemics, in 1957-1958 and 1968-1969, caused far fewer deaths because of the development of vaccines, Fox said.
"We are due for the next pandemic," Fox said.
That episode will likely last two years, he said.
Fox said it often takes at least six months to develop a flu vaccine. If a strong pandemic were to strike, traditional coping methods would likely prove minimally effective at stopping the spread of the virus, he said.
Fox serves on a pandemic influenza advisory committee for Swiss pharmaceutical giant Hoffman-La Roche, maker of Tamiflu, an oral antiviral drug that reduces the length and severity of the flu.
Most people cannot afford to stay home for an extended amount of time, and face masks are of questionable value, Fox said.
In addition, only limited amounts of antiviral drugs are stockpiled in this country, and certain government agencies are at the top of the list for receiving them. And those antivirals must be used within the first 24 to 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms to be useful, Fox said.
"As you may know, the Florida Legislature decided in its wisdom last year not to buy any antivirals for the State of Florida," Fox said. "There are no stockpiles in Florida."
Individuals can stockpile antiviral medications on their own. They have a shelf life of seven years, Fox said.
Local physician urges plan for businesses
Dr. Earl Campazzi, of Island Medical Care, like Fox recommends that businesses and other organizations develop a contingency plan for flu pandemics that takes into account staffing needs, antiviral drug stocks and on-site infection control supplies, such as hand-cleaning products, masks, gloves and tissues.
He recommends getting an annual flu shot and making sure all family members have a five-day (10-pill) supply of Tamiflu.
"We talk about our local government and local politics, but we always have big daddy, the federal government, to help us," Campazzi said. "If there is a hurricane, the National Guard comes. If there is any foreign threat, we have the military. But here it's affecting the whole country, and we are really going to rely on the county and the town almost exclusively."
Preparing for a flu pandemic is as important as preparing for a hurricane, Campazzi said.
Campazzi distributed copies of a pandemic influenza planning checklist for businesses. The check list is available online at https://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/bus....html.:tiphat: http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/ne...demic0412.html
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