Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Update August 2007
September is National Preparedness Month, time for a reminder that the threat of an influenza pandemic is ongoing. A recent study showed that communities that put previously planned measures into place during past pandemics fared better than those that did not. Preparation for a pandemic equals or exceeds preparation for most disasters. Makes sense, but how many times have there been forewarnings of various calamities and no one---or almost no one---prepared? The answer: too many.
AdvanceMed Hanford and the Department of Energy have been developing a pandemic influenza preparedness plan since the White House released its National Strategy in November of 2005, and Department headquarters has directed all sites to develop preparedness and continuity of operations plans. Since then, there has been concerted effort at Hanford to assure a pandemic response plan is in place and ready to go when a pandemic begins.
Each day that passes is one day closer to an influenza pandemic. Experts agree that it is not “if” but “when” (and with which virus) the next pandemic will occur. Meanwhile, each day buys time to prepare. Families and communities should have plans and supplies in place. Public health authorities recognize the threat and are working diligently to be ready and to make sure the public is ready. Emergency preparedness experts are seeking ways to reduce the impact of a pandemic. Pharmaceutical companies are working on drugs and vaccines. First responders are going through pandemic education and training.
The good news is that there has been NO human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 avian influenza (“bird flu”) virus---suspected as the possible agent of the next pandemic*. It has passed from chickens to humans in several hundred known cases in parts of Asia and Africa. More than half of known victims have died. Certain mutations could allow the virus to spread rapidly from person to person; the good news is that so far those mutations have not occurred.
The good news continues: there are several prospective vaccines being developed and evaluated that have potential to give some, if not full, immunity against a pandemic virus. One is based on the present H5N1 virus, in the hopes that it will resemble the eventual mutant pandemic virus. The other is directed toward the likely mutations themselves in the H5 portion of the virus that would otherwise allow it the capacity to go from person to person. Drug companies are also gearing up production of the antiviral medication oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), hoping that it will reduce the severity of infection…and that there will be many more doses available than there are now.
Nevertheless, nothing will provide better protection during a pandemic than personal planning now and avoidance of getting infected then. This requires a specific effort to have those necessary plans and items on hand to allow distancing from others who might be infected and contagious. All available plans, including those that have been developed here at the Hanford Site, include such information. Do you have a plan? Have you stocked up on what you need? If not, today is a good day to start. Need more information? See the Pandemic Preparedness section of the AMH website (www.hanford.gov/amh) or call Dr. Sandy Rock, AMH Risk Communicator, at (509) 372-0407.
* A University of Washington study---released in early September---has determined that there was person-to-person spread of the H5N1 virus within an Indonesian family in May 2006. There was no spread beyond that family. Other possible cases of spread from one person to another had been previously suspected; this was the first scientific study that demonstrated that phenomenon. AMH will provide more information about this in future updates.
