American Public Health Assoc. Pan/Flu pdf

[sharon sanders]

In November 2006, the American Public Health Association (APHA) adopted a new policy (2006-3: Preparing for Pandemic Influenza) that supports comprehensive national planning for an influenza pandemic and recommends key changes to the current preparedness and response strategy. ​

APHA believes that current federal plans and strategies—the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Pandemic Influenza Plan and the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza—are blueprints that can be used as the nation moves forward to prepare for pandemic flu. ​

However, they can be strengthened, especially in the following subject areas, to ensure that all individuals, families and communities are able to prepare for and respond to a flu pandemic, especially in the care for vulnerable populations.​

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The American Public Health Association (APHA) recommends the following:​

1. Congress enact legislation to provide incentives, including scholarship or loan repayment
support in return for a commitment to public health service, to attract and retain public health
students and professionals, especially racial and ethnic minorities, in local, state and federal
public health agencies.​

2.

Congress increase funding directed towards HRSA health professions programs that fall under​

Titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act, including public health traineeships and

preventive medicine residencies.​

3.
Public health officials plan for improving surge capacity of the public health workforce to
engage in core public health activities during a pandemic. Advance registry systems should be

developed to coordinate volunteer health professionals, as these are preferable to relying on ad

hoc or spontaneous volunteers.
4. ​

Existing voluntary entities such as the Medical Reserve Corps be utilized to facilitate an
adequate workforce surge capacity.

5. ​

Training programs be developed for volunteers listed on registry systems.

6.
Federal and state legal protections for health professionals responding to meet surge capacity
during a pandemic be enacted, including

• Licensure reciprocity,
• Protections from legal liability,
• Workers’ compensation coverage, and
• Employment protection.​

http://www.apha.org/NR/rdonlyres/D5017DB9-F400-4399-A656-939C4C8DF259/0/FLUpolicycomplete.pdf​

The Role of Non-Pharmaceutical
Interventions​

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[sharon sanders]

Wake up Call

Wake up Call

"The United States currently does not have the capacity to produce enough vaccine
for the public in a timely manner after a pandemic is declared.

The Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza states that within five years,
the nation should have the domestic vaccine production capacity to be able to provide
vaccine for the entire U.S. population within 6 months after the development of a vaccine
reference strain.

Regardless of whether the nation has expedited vaccine production capacity,
the response to pandemic flu will rely on non-pharmaceutical interventions—respiratory
hygiene, hand washing and social distancing—to slow the spread of the virus, especially in
the first six months of a pandemic."​

The Role of Non-Pharmaceutical
Interventions​

 

[sharon sanders]

Further recommendations

Further recommendations

1.​

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Laws and policies be created and implemented that grant federal, state and local health
officers the authority to make decisions about quarantine and isolation orders. These decisions
should be made on the basis of scientific risk and use the least restrictive alternative.​

2.​

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State and local health officials clarify who has the power to impose quarantine and isolation
orders in their jurisdiction and who does not.​

3.​

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Informal or voluntary isolation or quarantine be imposed whenever possible. Compulsory
isolation and quarantine powers should only be used when necessary. People subject to
quarantine and isolation orders should have the ability to appeal these orders.​

4.​

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State and local governments plan for the types of isolation and quarantine that will likely be
used during an influenza pandemic and make provisions to support the logistics of the
plans. Food, water, medications, mental health services and other necessities may need to
be delivered to people under quarantine.​

5.​

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People placed under quarantine orders in institutional settings not be confined to the same
space as people subject to isolation orders.​

6.​

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State and local government support public education campaigns communicating the
importance of isolation and quarantine orders and the need to prepare to shelter at home
for at least two weeks.​

7.​

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HHS, in consultation with state and local health officials, develop national standards for
sheltering in place (?snow days?).​

8.​

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HHS, in collaboration with state and local health departments, develop public education
and risk communication plans related to containment, including the need for continuing and
increasing mental health services.​

9.​

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Congress provide additional resources for quarantine activities at ports of entry to identify
persons with pandemic flu symptoms.​

10.​

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International collaboration in surveillance and international travel activities be carried out to
minimize the spread of disease over international borders.​

11.​

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The CDC quarantine regulations be implemented.​

 

[sharon sanders]

CDC Fact Sheet on Isolation and Quarantine

CDC Fact Sheet on Isolation and Quarantine

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/sars_facts/isolationquarantine.pdf

Isolation: For People Who Are Ill

[FONT=Verdana,Verdana]Isolation refers to the separation of persons who have a specific infectious illness from those who are healthy and the restriction of their movement to stop the spread of that illness. Isolation allows for the focused delivery of specialized health care to people who are ill, and it protects healthy people from getting sick. People in isolation may be cared for in their homes, in hospitals, or in designated healthcare facilities. Isolation is a standard procedure used in hospitals today for patients with tuberculosis (TB) and certain other infectious diseases. In most cases, isolation is voluntary; however, many levels of government (federal, state, and local) have basic authority to compel isolation of sick people to protect the public. [/FONT]

Quarantine: For People Who Have Been Exposed But Are Not Ill

[FONT=Verdana,Verdana]Quarantine refers to the separation and restriction of movement of persons who, while not yet ill, have been exposed to an infectious agent and therefore may become infectious. Quarantine of exposed persons is a public health strategy, like isolation, that is intended to stop the spread of infectious disease. Quarantine is medically very effective in protecting the public from disease. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Verdana]States generally have authority to declare and enforce quarantine within their borders. This authority varies widely from state to state, depending on state laws. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, also is empowered to detain, medically examine, or conditionally release persons suspected of carrying certain communicable diseases. [/FONT]​

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: American Public Health Assoc. Pan/Flu pdf

I encourage all who are reading this to consider stockpiling essential supplies.

FluTrackers' policy since late May 2006 has been to promote the stockpiling of 90 days of essentials.

However, we know this is a financial burden.

Try to add a little each week. Try to buy one extra food/water item per child in the household per week. Consider your prescription drug requirements also.

Form a small group of friends for assistance and mutual support in a pandemic/disaster. Make it a Network Partner group. Select 10 persons who you can trust to watch your children while you are at work, re-supply essential items, and provide emotional support.

Just 10 people. This is a good idea for any kind of emergency or disaster.

Think about it.

:yinyang:

 

[scottmcpherson]

Anyone notice the APHA's anti-DHS statement?

Anyone notice the APHA's anti-DHS statement?

They disagree with the White House strategery to have DHS handle all the other items that HHS will not handle.

Personally, I think DHS needs to be at the forefront of non-public health preparedness efforts. Whether they actually do anything or not is anyone's guess. They DO have some nice PowerPoints.

I refer to the nuke article that came out in today's newspapers, including the Miami Herald, chastising the Deaprtment for not doing more to prepare Americans for the prospect of modern asymetrical nuclear warfare, where MAD does not apply.