Plan for 35% of employees of all occupations staying home in event of pandemic flu outbreak advised
By JOHN FROEHLING/of the Daily Ledger
Published: Monday, October 9, 2006 12:54 PM CDT
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The swift spread of a deadly strain of influenza from birds to humans does not appear to be an imminent threat in the United States, but the time may be ripe for a global epidemic, or pandemic, of some other kind of life-threatening flu, a county health official said.
Gordon James, community health program manager for the Fulton County Health Department, said Thursday at a meeting of Kiwanis Club of Canton that pandemic flu tends to occur in cycles, and the world could be due for another outbreak of such a malady. The Spanish Flu took the lives of millions in 1918. Another significant flu event occurred in 1958.
James noted many advances in medicine have been made over the years. Lack of effective medication in 1918 was part of the reason so many died at that time. Should a pandemic flu occur in the near future, a vaccine would be developed, but the process would take some time.
Disaster preparedness is a good idea for any kind of situation -- fire, tornado, earthquake, act or war or terrorist attack -- and it applies to pandemic diseases as well, James said.
He explained there are three types of flu. There is the regular kind for which many people get annual flu shots but otherwise can make people quite ill -- 200,000 a year die from it every year -- and then there are avian and pandemic flu. Avian flu affects birds. A few dozen people in third-world countries who live in unsanitary conditions have contracted that virus from close contact with birds (such as slaughtering chickens). But avian flu does not appear to pose the threat to humans once feared.
The idea of birds flying thousands of miles in their migration patterns and spreading a virus far and wide was the source for such fear. But again, the casual, indirect spread of the disease from birds to humans does not seem to be the case now.
Pandemic flu, on the other hand, spreads very quickly when it does occur. Preparing for it means storing reserves of food and water. Having ample water is most important, James said. He added many people have enough food and water to last a week anyway.
But he added preparing for pandemic flu also requires weighing how society will continue to function if large numbers of people get sick. How will businesses and agencies run if more than a third of their personnel do not report for work? It would not do much good to ask for help from other organizations if 35 percent of the manpower of those agencies are either ill or at home caring for someone else who is ill, James said.
He pointed out a 35 percent reduction in the workforce means fewer police and firemen to respond to crimes, accidents, and burning buildings. It means fewer doctors and nurses able to help the ill. It means fewer workers to make products, provide services, grow food, do scientific research, maintain water and sewer systems, and so forth.
The point is to think ahead about the possibilities and develop a plan. Being prepared will help get through a pandemic flu without a panic, James said.
James noted the Peoria Journal Star newspaper last summer printed a story (on the front page of a Sunday edition) warning of an imminent threat of pandemic flu. The time for the disease to reportedly strike has come and gone. The story was based on information from the American Red Cross only. No other source was cited in the story to corroborate the information of a potentially deadly outbreak that could be widespread.
James said it was unfortunate the Red Cross did not confer with health officials from other agencies before releasing such a story to the media. Health officials need "to speak with one voice" to ensure accurate information is presented. This will help avoid confusion, prevent panic and assure the public it is not being misled.
In the future, the health-care community should work closer together to inform the public of possible threats, when necessary, and advisable precautions, James said.
By JOHN FROEHLING/of the Daily Ledger
Published: Monday, October 9, 2006 12:54 PM CDT
E-mail this story | Print this page
The swift spread of a deadly strain of influenza from birds to humans does not appear to be an imminent threat in the United States, but the time may be ripe for a global epidemic, or pandemic, of some other kind of life-threatening flu, a county health official said.
Gordon James, community health program manager for the Fulton County Health Department, said Thursday at a meeting of Kiwanis Club of Canton that pandemic flu tends to occur in cycles, and the world could be due for another outbreak of such a malady. The Spanish Flu took the lives of millions in 1918. Another significant flu event occurred in 1958.
James noted many advances in medicine have been made over the years. Lack of effective medication in 1918 was part of the reason so many died at that time. Should a pandemic flu occur in the near future, a vaccine would be developed, but the process would take some time.
Disaster preparedness is a good idea for any kind of situation -- fire, tornado, earthquake, act or war or terrorist attack -- and it applies to pandemic diseases as well, James said.
He explained there are three types of flu. There is the regular kind for which many people get annual flu shots but otherwise can make people quite ill -- 200,000 a year die from it every year -- and then there are avian and pandemic flu. Avian flu affects birds. A few dozen people in third-world countries who live in unsanitary conditions have contracted that virus from close contact with birds (such as slaughtering chickens). But avian flu does not appear to pose the threat to humans once feared.
The idea of birds flying thousands of miles in their migration patterns and spreading a virus far and wide was the source for such fear. But again, the casual, indirect spread of the disease from birds to humans does not seem to be the case now.
Pandemic flu, on the other hand, spreads very quickly when it does occur. Preparing for it means storing reserves of food and water. Having ample water is most important, James said. He added many people have enough food and water to last a week anyway.
But he added preparing for pandemic flu also requires weighing how society will continue to function if large numbers of people get sick. How will businesses and agencies run if more than a third of their personnel do not report for work? It would not do much good to ask for help from other organizations if 35 percent of the manpower of those agencies are either ill or at home caring for someone else who is ill, James said.
He pointed out a 35 percent reduction in the workforce means fewer police and firemen to respond to crimes, accidents, and burning buildings. It means fewer doctors and nurses able to help the ill. It means fewer workers to make products, provide services, grow food, do scientific research, maintain water and sewer systems, and so forth.
The point is to think ahead about the possibilities and develop a plan. Being prepared will help get through a pandemic flu without a panic, James said.
James noted the Peoria Journal Star newspaper last summer printed a story (on the front page of a Sunday edition) warning of an imminent threat of pandemic flu. The time for the disease to reportedly strike has come and gone. The story was based on information from the American Red Cross only. No other source was cited in the story to corroborate the information of a potentially deadly outbreak that could be widespread.
James said it was unfortunate the Red Cross did not confer with health officials from other agencies before releasing such a story to the media. Health officials need "to speak with one voice" to ensure accurate information is presented. This will help avoid confusion, prevent panic and assure the public it is not being misled.
In the future, the health-care community should work closer together to inform the public of possible threats, when necessary, and advisable precautions, James said.