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Pandemic influenza resources

Background

Pandemic influenza

In 2005, heightened concerns surfaced about the potential for a pandemic influenza, prompting the government to issue a national pandemic strategy and a companion national pandemic influenza plan for implementation. An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when three conditions are met: 1) a new influenza A virus appears or "emerges" in the human population; 2) the virus causes serious illness in people; and 3) the virus spreads easily from person to person worldwide. Currently there is no worldwide flu pandemic. However there is concern that the next pandemic may be caused by an avian, or "bird" influenza virus, or some other new strain of influenza virus.

Avian influenza viruses occur naturally among birds and may infect humans who live in close proximity with infected birds. The World Health Organization (WHO) tracks the number of cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) on a special Web site. Public health officials are closely monitoring for H5N1 avian influenza in humans and other strains capable of being spread efficiently from person to person.

This Web site is intended to provide key documents, resources, tools and web sites for seasonal and pandemic influenza preparedness with new and updated resources being added weekly. An overview of these resources is available in Premier's 4-page Fact Sheet, a Summary of resources available from Premier including information on seasonal, pandemic and avian influenza (.pdf) (110 KB)

Please visit the Safety Institute's emergency preparedness Web site for resources on all types of emergency planning.

With nearly 36,000 deaths per year from seasonal influenza-related illness, current seasonal influenza information is also available on the Safety Web. Implementing successful programs to address seasonal influenza, including immunization of high risk patients and staff, will serve as the foundation for pandemic preparedness.

Safety Institute's edition of HHS/CDC checklist for hospitals
to help prepare for a pandemic, June 2007

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with input from other Federal partners, have developed this checklist to help hospitals assess and improve their preparedness for responding to pandemic influenza. Because of differences among hospitals (e.g., characteristics of the patient population, size of the hospital/community, scope of services), each hospital will need to adapt this checklist to meet its unique needs and circumstances. HHS offers this as a PDF (2 MB) or on-line. However the Safety Institute offers this checklist as a Word file to save on your computer and complete or update at your own pace. The document retains the HTML format and features.

Premier's Hospital Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist (.doc) (462 KB)

HHS Web site: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/healthcare/hospitalchecklist.html

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Pandemic & avian influenza - World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO Infection prevention and control of epidemic- and pandemic-prone acute respiratory diseases in health care. WHO Interim Guidelines. June 2007

WHO states that the present guidelines supersede the document "Hospital Infection Control Guidance for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)", revised 24 April 2003. These guidelines also relate to, and can be used in conjunction with, the document "Avian Influenza, Including Influenza A (H5N1): WHO Interim Infection Control Guidelines for Health-care Facilities" published by the WHO updated in May 2007 (See below).

After the conclusion of the pilot tests, to be conducted in 2007/2008, a revised version of these guidelines will be published. In the event of new epidemics or pandemics, additional recommendations will be forthcoming.

Download WHO interim guidelines (6/07) (.pdf) (2.6 MB) or go to:
http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/WHO_CD_EPR_2007_6/en/index.html

Avian Influenza, Including Influenza A (H5N1), in Humans: WHO Interim Infection Control Guideline for Health Care Facilities (5/10/07) (.pdf) (1.2 MB)

WHO pandemic influenza draft protocol for rapid response and containment (1/27/06) (.pdf) (89 KB)

WHO avian influenza frequently asked questions (11/3/05) (.doc) (68 KB)

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Pandemic influenza plans, updates & strategies -
U.S. Federal agencies

d23-0609  CMS Survey & Certification Emergency Preparedness - Influenza checklists

Recommendations and helpful tools were developed with the input of the CMS S&C Emergency Preparedness Stakeholder Communication Forum. Three checklists address healthcare facilities (acute care); long-term care and persons at home with medical needs. Download files or go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/SurveyCertEmergPrep/03_HealthCareProviderGuidance.asp

Community Pan-Flu Preparedness: A Checklist of Key Legal Issues for Healthcare Providers

This tool was developed by the American Health Lawyers Association, Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is designed to assist providers along the continuum of care, as well as the broader healthcare and public health communities, in taking concrete steps to prepare for an influenza pandemic.

Download Checklist  (.pdf)(3MB)

GAO - Government Accountability Office

Report to Congress: Influenza Pandemic - September, 2007

"Further Efforts Are Needed to Ensure Clearer Leadership Roles and Effective National Strategy. Report and Highlights." GAO-07-781, August 14, released September 10, 2007.

Download report (.pdf) (782 KB)

Download highlights (.pdf) (66 KB)

Homeland Security Council

Homeland Security Council – Health and Human Services, 2009

"Assessment of States’ Operating Plans to Combat Pandemic Influenza" (01/16/09)

This Report to the Security Council by Secretary Leavitt and Secretary Chertoff addresses the readiness of the states for combating pandemic influenza.

State Assessment (pdf) 569KB) or go to http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/states/state_assessment.html

OSHA, 2007

Guidance on preparing workplaces for an influenza pandemic (5/22/07) (.pdf) (313 KB)

HHS/CDC

HHS Pandemic Planning Update VI – January 8, 2009

A report from Secretary Michael O. Leavitt

Monitoring and surveillance, stockpiling pre-pandemic vaccines and antiviral drugs, providing assistance for state and local preparedness, developing and testing mitigation strategies, creating needed domestic vaccine production, plus communications and outreach.

Pandemic Flu update VI (3/17/08) (.pdf ) (1.4MB) or
Go to http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/panflureport6.html

 

HHS Pandemic Planning Update V – March 17, 2008

A report from Secretary Michael O. Leavitt

Monitoring and surveillance, stockpiling pre-pandemic vaccines and antiviral drugs, providing assistance for state and local preparedness, developing and testing mitigation strategies, creating needed domestic vaccine production, plus communications and outreach.

High quality print version - Pandemic Flu update V (3/17/08) (.pdf ) (2.67MB)

Low quality view/email version - Pandemic Flu update V (3/17/08) (.pdf ) (272KB)
 

Business professionals resources

Pandemic Influenza Risk Management for Employers, March 2007

Study by Borba et.al, Milliman Co. NY, commissioned by Glaxo Smith & Kline

Download study (.pdf) (1.2 MB)

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy - University of Minnesota (CIDRAP)

Promising Practices database

A recently launched Web site Promising Practices is intended to assist public health officials find tools and ideas to help them prepare for an influenza pandemic. The Web site, describes and links to 130 "promising practices" from four countries, 22 states, and 33 counties. Promising Practices was developed by CIDRAP and the Pew Center on the States (PCS), part of the Pew Charitable Trusts.

A database search can be done by state or topic and by area of special interest, such as materials translated into multiple languages and tool kits for schools The site addresses issues such as altering standards of clinical care, communicating effectively about pandemic flu, and delaying and reducing the impact of a pandemic. Other topics range from triage of possible flu patients and reopening closed hospitals to guidance for schools, isolation and quarantine strategies, and mortuary planning.

http://www.pandemicpractices.org/

 

10-Point Framework for Pandemic Influenza Business Contingency Planning

This original document was produced by CIDRAP staff and reviewed by 19 business professionals representing a wide spectrum of industry sectors and relevant job functions. Free upon request online. http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy- University of Minnesota May, 2006

For an analysis of the "National strategy for pandemic influenza- Implementation plan" see "New US pandemic plan stresses local self-reliance" May 4, 2006.

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/

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