Disaster Preparedness: Influenza What every school administrator should knowJonathan Schultz, Ph. D. StudentWalden UniversityPUBH 8165-01Dr. Howard RubinFall Quarter, 2010

Outline• Understand the significance of influenza• Different strains of the Influenza virus• Epidemic Influenza• The signs and symptoms associated with

Influenza• How Influenza is spread• Preparations that can be put into place now

in order to prevent a dangerous environment later.

Influenza: A “common” virus with a potentially dangerous undertone

• Influenza is well known and generally not perceived to be a risk.

• Complacency can be costly

• Prevention is key

• Flu Pandemic of 1918– 40-65 million

deaths– Claimed more lives

than the Holocaust, World War II, the Gulf War, the Vietnam War, September 11, 2001, and the Iraq/Afghanistan wars all combinedOracle Think Quest (n.d.). The cost of the Holocaust. Retrieved November 1, 2010 from http://www.library.thinkquest.org

Oxford University (n.d.). War Chronicles. Retrieved November 1, 2010 from http://www.warchronicles.com/numbers/wwii/deaths.htm

World Health Organization (2010a). Ten Concerns if avian influenza becomes a pandemic. Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/pandemic10things/en/

Influenza: The Basics• Influenza is a virus• Cannot be treated

with antibiotics• There are two main

strains of the influenza virus

• These strains differ in levels of intensity and lethality

Hall, C. (2001). Respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus. New England Journal of Medicine 344, 1917-1928.

Centers for Disease Control (2005). Influenza Viruses. Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/flu-viruses.htm

Influenza A vs. Influenza B

Influenza A and Influenza B

Influenza A Influenza B

Medicine World (n.d.). How influenza virus evades the body’s immune response. Retrieved October 1, 2010 from http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/5-2009/evade-the-bodys-immune-response.html

WhyDoes (2009). Why does seine flu kill. Retrieved October 1, 2010 from http://www.whydoes.org/

Influenza B• Only found in

humans• Can be spread from

human to human• Less severe than

Influenza A

• Important to note. While Influenza B still holds the ability to cause an epidemic, it has never caused a pandemic.

Centers for Disease Control (2005). Influenza Viruses. Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/flu-viruses.htm

Influenza A

Phil, S. (2009). Are you afraid of the piglet flu? Retrieved October 1, 2010 from http://flavorwire.com/46777/are-you-afraid-of-getting-piglet-flu#more-46777

Centers for Disease Control (2006). Transmission of Influenza A Viruses between Animals and People. Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/transmission.htm

Influenza A Continued• Starts in animals• Potential to be severe• Most lethal form of Influenza• Responsible for epidemics as well as

pandemics• Can beat the human immune system

through rapid mutation

Centers for Disease Control (2010). How the flu virus can change: “Drift” and “Shift.” Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/change.htm

Centers for Disease Control (2006). Transmission of Influenza A Viruses between Animals and People. Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/transmission.htm

Pandemic Flu

Spanish Influenza 1918• Deadliest event in human

history• 40-65 million deaths• Circled globe in 13

months

Asian Influenza 1957 and Hong Kong influenza 1968• Less severe than 1918

pandemic• 2 million deaths in 1957 • 1 million deaths in 1968

World Health Organization (2010a). Ten Concerns if avian influenza becomes a pandemic. Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/pandemic10things/en/

On the brink of another pandemic• World Health Organization “concerned” with

new information.• Avian flu H5N1• Most lethal avian flu on record• Began to jump from birds to humans

World Health Organization (2010a). Ten Concerns if avian influenza becomes a pandemic. Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/pandemic10things/en/

World Health Organization (2010b). Avian Influenza – Situation in Indonesia – Update 4. Retrieved October 19, 2010 from http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_10_18/en/index.html

Steps that you, the School Administrator can takePrevention is best!

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms• Fever• Muscle aches• Headache• Lack of energy• Dry cough• Sore throat• Vomiting and diarrhea in

more severe cases

Centers for Disease Control (2010b). Influenza Symptoms and Laboratory Diagnostic Procedures. Retrieved October 18, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/diagnosis/labprocedures.htm

Centers for Disease Control (2010c). How Flu Spreads. Retrieved October 10, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm

Centers for Disease Control (2010c). How Flu Spreads. Retrieved October 10, 2010 fromhttp://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm

Transmission of Influenza• Coughing• Sneezing• Contact with

infected surface

http://intlxpatr.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/

http://ladyviral.blogspot.com/2010/08/weekend-coming-near.html

Centers for Disease Control (2010). Influenza Symptoms and Laboratory Diagnostic Procedures. Retrieved October 18, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/diagnosis/labprocedures.htm

Centers for Disease Control (2010c). How Flu Spreads. Retrieved October 10, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm

Here is where you come into play• Promote that your

students, faculty, and staff get vaccinated against influenza

• Best form of protection

• You can’t get sick from the flu SHOT

• Flyer answering FAQs on the flu vaccine

• National Influenza Vaccination Week flyer

Centers for Disease Control (2010d). Vaccine Information Statements. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm#flu

Flu.gov (2010). Know what to do about the flu: Vaccination. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccination/index.html#TheSeasonalFluVaccine

World Health Organization (2010c). Influenza Vaccine Update. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Avian_Flu_influenza_vaccine_development.pdf

Host a School Located Vaccination Program

• Great opportunity sponsored by CDC with benefits to you including:– Mass vaccination– Ensure greater numbers of students receive

vaccination• In addition, CDC provides:

– Template Letters Seeking Advanced Consent for Vaccination

– Template to Alert Parents to Upcoming Planned Clinics

– Template Consent Form for Use With Intramuscular, Injectable Formulation of Vaccine

Centers for Disease Control (2010e). School-Located Vaccination Program Planning Materials. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/school_located_vac.htm

Encourage Prevention• Cover mouth AND

nose with a tissue or elbow, not hands

• Wash hand with soap and hot water– Antibacterial soap if

water is not available

• Avoid putting hands in mouth and nose as this can transmit the virus.

Centers for Disease Control (2010f). Everyday Preventive Actions That Can Help Fighe Germs, Like Flu. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/family/everyday_preventive.pdf http://kerjasampinganaja.blogsome.com

Disinfect, Disinfect, Disinfect!!!• The flu virus can

live 2-8 hours outside of a human host.

• Proper disinfection techniques can help keep living viruses off of surfaces.

• CDCs Disinfection Recipe– Add 1 tablespoon of

bleach to 1 quart (4 cups) of water. For a larger supply of disinfectant, add ¼ cup of bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water.

– Apply the solution to the surface with a cloth.

– Let it stand for 3 to 5 minutes.

– Rinse the surface with clean water.

Centers for Disease Control (2010f). Everyday Preventive Actions That Can Help Fight Germs, Like Flu. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/family/everyday_preventive.pdf

Conclusion

Resources• School-Located Vaccination Information and Materials

– This website contains all of the information needed to set up a School-located Vaccination clinic

• The Flu: A Guide for Parents – This PDF file contains answers to many of the questions that parents might ask with

regards to the last flu season, and your preparedness for this upcoming one.• The following links will take you to pre-made posters for educators

from the Centers for Disease Control– COVER YOUR COUGH– Communication Toolkit for Schools (Grades K-12)

• Take the Flu IQ quiz and test your knowledge about the Influenza Virus– Flu IQ

• The following website gives weekly updates on flu activity throughout the country– http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm

References• Centers for Disease Control (2005). Influenza Viruses.

Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/flu-viruses.htm

• Centers for Disease Control (2006). Transmission of Influenza A Viruses between Animals and People. Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/transmission.htm

• Centers for Disease Control (2010). How the flu virus can change: “Drift” and “Shift.” Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/change.htm

• Centers for Disease Control (2010b). Influenza Symptoms and Laboratory Diagnostic Procedures. Retrieved October 18, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/diagnosis/labprocedures.htm

• Centers for Disease Control (2010c). How Flu Spreads. Retrieved October 10, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm

References• Centers for Disease Control (2010d). Vaccine Information

Statements. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm#flu

• Centers for Disease Control (2010e). School-Located Vaccination Program Planning Materials. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/school_located_vac.htm

• Centers for Disease Control (2010f). Everyday Preventive Actions That Can Help Fighe Germs, Like Flu. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/family/everyday_preventive.pdf

• Flu.gov (2010). Know what to do about the flu: Vaccination. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccinationindex.html#TheSeasonalFluVaccine 

• Hall, C. (2001). Respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus. New England Journal of Medicine 344, 1917-1928.

References• Medicine World (n.d.). How influenza virus evades the body’s immune

response. Retrieved October 1, 2010 from http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/5-2009/evade-the-bodys-immune-response.html

• Phil, S. (2009). Are you afraid of the piglet flu? Retrieved October 1, 2010 from http://flavorwire.com/46777/are-you-afraid-of-getting-piglet-flu#more-46777 

• WhyDoes (2009). Why does seine flu kill. Retrieved October 1, 2010 from http://www.whydoes.org/

• World Health Organization (2010a). Ten Concerns if avian influenza becomes a pandemic. Retrieved October 2, 2010 from http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/pandemic10things/en/ 

• World Health Organization (2010b). Avian Influenza – Situation in Indonesia – Update 4. Retrieved October 19, 2010 from http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_10_18/en/index.html

• World Health Organization (2010c). Influenza Vaccine Update. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Avian_Flu_influenza_vaccine_development.pdf