Local Emergency Planning Committee
Pandemic Planning
Influenza is spread
among people by close contact (6 ft or less) to a sneezing
or coughing sick person or by touching a contaminated
surface and then the mouth, nose or eyes. At this time, the
H5N1 Avian Flu is not easily spread from person-to-person;
the concern is that it may change or mutate into a form that
is. The big concern about Avian Influenza (*Bird Flu*) is
that if it could be easily spread person-to-person and cause
a worldwide outbreak (also known as pandemic) of flu in
humans, it could result in millions of human deaths
worldwide.
The Union County Health
Department, along with members of the LEPC, has formulated
plans for controlling the spread of flu. Part of
controlling flu requires educating the public on the
necessity of good hand washing techniques, coughing into the
crook of the elbow instead of into the hand, and storing
supplies of surgical masks and gloves. If a pandemic flu
hits this county, activities such as large gatherings of
people may need to be canceled and there will need to be
voluntary isolation of ill people. Because it takes months
to develop vaccines and because flu strains mutate into
different forms, it is not likely that there will be a
vaccine available for a pandemic flu.
In a pandemic,
businesses can expect up to a 40% reduction in their
workforce with workers who are ill, taking care of ill
family members or caring for children if schools and day
cares are closed. Flu generally comes in waves and each
wave will last 6-8 weeks. The primary objective of planning
for pandemic is to minimize sickness and death. The
secondary objective is to minimize social and economic
disruption. Part of the planning process is to develop a
list of county specific support agencies that will carry out
essential roles during a pandemic period, and Union County
is presently involved in that process. In addition
businesses, individuals and families should develop pandemic
response plans.
Additional information and
guides for business, individual and family plans can be
found at:
www.pandemicflu.gov. The Tennessee State Plan, the East
Tennessee Regional Plan, and county annexes can be viewed
at:
http://www2.state.tn.us/health/CEDS/pandemic.htm
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