Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://packetonline.com/articles/2008/06/25/the_messenger_press/news/doc485a7d29ec6dd699765119.txt
Health officials look at possibility and timing of flu pandemic
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 10:55 AM EDT
By Lisa Merolla, Staff Writer
ROBBINSVILLE ? The local Health Department in West Windsor is readying nearby towns for a potential outbreak of pandemic flu, health officials said at the Township Council meeting on June 12.
Local health departments across the state received grants for pandemic preparation from the New Jersey Department of Health, said Robert Hary, the health officer for Robbinsville, West Windsor and Hightstown townships. The grant money comes from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the second year in a row, Robbinsville has received ?a couple thousand dollars? from the program, Mr. Hary added.
?We?ve been discussing pandemic flu for at least the past three years,? he said. ?The advent of the avian flu was the impetus behind the renewed interest in this.?
Health Educator Marcie Tyson outlined for the Township Council the problems a pandemic ? a global epidemic ? could cause. She said Robbinsville must prepare for the inevitable flu outbreak.
?We in public health are waiting for the next pandemic,? she said. ?We know it?s coming, but we don?t know when.?
*
Ms. Tyson said when the outbreak does come, it will last for 12 to 18 months. The first wave of the flu would cause a 40 percent reduction in the workforce, and a vaccine would not be perfected for at least six months. To limit disruption to residents? lives, she said, Robbinsville needs to plan ahead.
Ms. Tyson recommended that families prepare their homes for a pandemic because services such as schools, doctors? offices and supermarkets will be affected. For example, the health departments are developing a self-care guide to teach residents about taking care of themselves. In addition, she suggested people stock their homes with essential foods, medicines and toiletries.
?Our job is to plan ahead for the worst and hope for the best,? Ms. Tyson said.
She added that people must learn about basic infection control, like sneezing into their arms rather than their hands. She also advocated the concept of social distancing ? staying away from close contact with other people.
The local Health Department now is working on spreading this message to the public. It is printing brochures and planning to update town Web sites with information about pandemic preparation. Mr. Hary added the towns are working on coordinating their pandemic plan with the county and state plans.
Mr. Hary said there will be a meeting for the public June 24 at the West Windsor town hall where pandemic information and tips will be discussed.
Robbinsville Township Administrator Mary Caffrey called the pandemic presentation ?informative and very lively.? She said Robbinsville is going to add more information about pandemics to its Web site.
There were three pandemics in the 20th century, Ms. Tyson said at the meeting. The most famous was the Spanish flu of 1918, but there were two smaller outbreaks as well, one in the 1950s and one in the 1960s. Reports of avian flu have raised concerns that another pandemic could occur.
Right now, the avian flu is not easily transmissible from person to person, Ms. Tyson said. However, public health officials fear someone could become infected with the seasonal and avian flu at the same time. The two infections could ?dance a little dance in your body? and come back out more dangerous, she said.
?It?s not if it?s going to happen,? Ms. Tyson said, ?it?s when.?
People looking for more information about pandemic flu preparation can go to www.pandemicflu.gov.
*
Health officials look at possibility and timing of flu pandemic
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 10:55 AM EDT
By Lisa Merolla, Staff Writer
ROBBINSVILLE ? The local Health Department in West Windsor is readying nearby towns for a potential outbreak of pandemic flu, health officials said at the Township Council meeting on June 12.
Local health departments across the state received grants for pandemic preparation from the New Jersey Department of Health, said Robert Hary, the health officer for Robbinsville, West Windsor and Hightstown townships. The grant money comes from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the second year in a row, Robbinsville has received ?a couple thousand dollars? from the program, Mr. Hary added.
?We?ve been discussing pandemic flu for at least the past three years,? he said. ?The advent of the avian flu was the impetus behind the renewed interest in this.?
Health Educator Marcie Tyson outlined for the Township Council the problems a pandemic ? a global epidemic ? could cause. She said Robbinsville must prepare for the inevitable flu outbreak.
?We in public health are waiting for the next pandemic,? she said. ?We know it?s coming, but we don?t know when.?
*
Ms. Tyson said when the outbreak does come, it will last for 12 to 18 months. The first wave of the flu would cause a 40 percent reduction in the workforce, and a vaccine would not be perfected for at least six months. To limit disruption to residents? lives, she said, Robbinsville needs to plan ahead.
Ms. Tyson recommended that families prepare their homes for a pandemic because services such as schools, doctors? offices and supermarkets will be affected. For example, the health departments are developing a self-care guide to teach residents about taking care of themselves. In addition, she suggested people stock their homes with essential foods, medicines and toiletries.
?Our job is to plan ahead for the worst and hope for the best,? Ms. Tyson said.
She added that people must learn about basic infection control, like sneezing into their arms rather than their hands. She also advocated the concept of social distancing ? staying away from close contact with other people.
The local Health Department now is working on spreading this message to the public. It is printing brochures and planning to update town Web sites with information about pandemic preparation. Mr. Hary added the towns are working on coordinating their pandemic plan with the county and state plans.
Mr. Hary said there will be a meeting for the public June 24 at the West Windsor town hall where pandemic information and tips will be discussed.
Robbinsville Township Administrator Mary Caffrey called the pandemic presentation ?informative and very lively.? She said Robbinsville is going to add more information about pandemics to its Web site.
There were three pandemics in the 20th century, Ms. Tyson said at the meeting. The most famous was the Spanish flu of 1918, but there were two smaller outbreaks as well, one in the 1950s and one in the 1960s. Reports of avian flu have raised concerns that another pandemic could occur.
Right now, the avian flu is not easily transmissible from person to person, Ms. Tyson said. However, public health officials fear someone could become infected with the seasonal and avian flu at the same time. The two infections could ?dance a little dance in your body? and come back out more dangerous, she said.
?It?s not if it?s going to happen,? Ms. Tyson said, ?it?s when.?
People looking for more information about pandemic flu preparation can go to www.pandemicflu.gov.
*