Cape May County - Flu-3-Pandemic

Pandemic Influenza

Pandemic influenza is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in humans, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide. Three major influenza pandemics swept the globe in the 20th century causing millions of deaths, and no one knows for sure when the next pandemic may strike.

What’s the difference between a pandemic and a seasonal outbreak of flu?

A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily person-to-person, causes serious illness, and can sweep across the country and around the world in very short time.

Seasonal outbreaks of flu are caused by strains of flu virus similar to those of past years. Some people may have built up immunity, and there is also a vaccine for each year’s flu season.

When is the next flu pandemic expected?

Three pandemics occurred in the 20th century, all of which spread around the world within one year of being detected. Of these, the pandemic of 1918-1919 was the most severe, with 50 million or more deaths worldwide. No one can predict when a pandemic might occur, but many scientists believe it is only a matter of time before the next one arises.

Health professionals are concerned that the continued spread of a highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus across eastern Asia and other countries represents a significant threat to human health. The H5N1 virus has raised concerns about a potential human pandemic because:

It is especially virulent
It is being spread by migratory birds
It can be transmitted from birds to mammals and in some limited circumstances to humans, and
Like other influenza viruses, it continues to evolve.

Since 2003, a growing number of human H5N1 cases have been reported in Asia, Africa, and Europe. More than half of the people infected with the H5N1 virus have died. Most of these cases are all believed to have been caused by exposure to infected poultry. There has been no sustained human-to-human transmission of the disease, but the concern is that H5N1 will evolve into a virus capable of human-to-human transmission.

What risks does Cape May County face if there is a flu pandemic?

If a new and severe strain of flu were to begin spreading across the globe, New Jersey would not be spared from its impact. The severity of the next pandemic cannot be predicted, but modeling studies suggest that its effect in the United States could be severe. In the absence of any control measures (vaccination or drugs), it has been estimated that in the United States a "medium–level" pandemic could cause:

89,000 to 207,000 deaths
314,000 and 734,000 hospitalizations
18 to 42 million outpatient visits
20 to 47 million people becoming sick

While no one knows how a pandemic will affect Cape May County, modeling estimates for the year-round population include:

59-135 deaths
147-431 hospitalizations
10,813-19,600 outpatient visits
21,000 people becoming sick

Flu pandemics are different from many of the threats for which public health and the healthcare system are currently planning:

The pandemic will last much longer than most other emergency events and may include waves of flu activity separated by months (in 20th century pandemics, a second wave of flu activity occurred three to 12 months after the first wave).
The numbers of healthcare workers and first responders available to work can be expected to be reduced as they will be at high risk of illness through exposure in the community and in health care settings, and some may have to miss work to care for ill family members.
Resources in many locations could be limited because of how widespread a flu pandemic would be.

How is Cape May County preparing for a flu pandemic?

The Cape May County Department of Health has a Pandemic Influenza Response Plan. This plan outlines the County’s public health response to a novel influenza virus, including:

Enhancing disease surveillance to ensure early detection of the first cases of pandemic influenza in Cape May County
Distributing public stocks of antiviral drugs and vaccines and providing local physicians and hospital administrators with updated guidance on clinical management and infection control as the situation unfolds
Preventing local disease transmission using a range of containment strategies
Providing ongoing communication with the public (about the response effort, including the purpose and duration of containment measures)
Providing psychological and social support services to emergency field workers and other responders.

How can I prepare for a pandemic flu?

The following planning tools, guidelines, and educational materials are available for specific groups to help you prepare for a pandemic flu.

Information for Specific Groups
Individuals and Families
Healthcare Providers
Businesses, Schools, and Community Organizations

Current flu vaccines will not protect against a new pandemic strain of flu virus. Because it takes several months to develop and distribute vaccine for a new strain, a vaccine probably would not be available in the early stages of a pandemic. If a pandemic occurs, it is expected that the U.S. government will work with many partner groups to make recommendations to guide the early use of vaccine. Vaccines that may be effective against H5N1 virus are being developed and tested.

Are there any other treatments for pandemic flu?

Antiviral medications can be used to treat and/or prevent influenza A viruses. However, flu strains can become resistant to antiviral medications. For example, only one antiviral medication works against the H5N1 Avian Flu virus identified in human patients in Asia in 2004 and 2005. The supply of this antiviral medication is very limited worldwide, however the U.S. government is working to increase the amount of antiviral medications in the national stockpile.

What should you be doing?

It is unlikely that a vaccine will be available in the early stages of a pandemic. However, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family against the spread of the flu and other germs and viruses:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or cough into your elbow.
Wash hands thoroughly and often.
Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Visit www.cdc.gov/germstopper/ for more information.
Prepare yourself and your family with these planning tools.