Pandemic Flu

Prevention

Recommended prevention measures are based on transmission mechanisms. Influenza transmission requires exposure to:

1. large droplets, through coughing or sneezing,
2. direct contact (skin to skin) or indirect contact with contaminated objects, or
3. near-range aerosols (small infectious particles, dispersed in air currents) in shared spaces with poor air circulation.

Source: DHHS Pandemic Influenza Plan Supplement 4 Infection Control

• Infection Control Measures
  • Hygiene
  • Social Distancing
  • Containment Measures
    • Voluntary Isolation of Ill Persons
    • Voluntary Quarantine of Household Members of Ill Persons
• Vaccines and Antivirals
  • Vaccines
  • Antivirals

Infection Control Measures

Hygiene

Basic hygiene measures provide the foundation for an effective infection control initiative.

Cover your nose and mouth if coughing and sneezing and use disposable tissues. Immediately dispose of contaminated tissue. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. The wearing of disposable surgical masks may be helpful to minimize transmission. Wash your hands well (particularly after coughing and sneezing) using soap and water, or hand sanitizer. Hand washing remains the single most effective measure to reduce the risk of transmission infection from one person to another.

Do not share cups, utensils, dishes and wash thoroughly with hot water and soap. Clean and disinfect areas that have been inhabited by a person suspected of having influenza. Areas should be well ventilated, preferable by fresh air, or by well maintained air conditioning systems.

Clean surfaces with a neutral detergent and then a disinfectant. Surfaces that are touched by hands should be cleaned more often, preferable daily. Soiled laundry can be washed with other laundry, however, do not hug the laundry and wash hands after handling soiled laundry.

For additional information and educational materials on hygiene prevention, see:

• Clean Hands Save Lives!
• Cover Your Cough
• Why Don't We Do it in Our Sleeve" video; a must see!

Social Distancing

These interventions serve to reduce community exposure and thus slow or limit disease transmission by minimizing contact with others. Social distancing measures include:

• Avoid crowded places and large gatherings.
• Maintain a distance of at least 3 feet between persons.
• Avoid face-to-face meetings; use alternative methods.
• Avoid unnecessary travel.
• Avoid contact with persons who have flu-like symptoms
• Stay home if sick.
• School and daycare closures can be expected. During this time, children should avoid out-of-school contacts and community mixing. If children must mix for pragmatic reasons such as shared child care, it is recommended that the groupings be kept small (defined as fewer than six children).

Major Source: www.med.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentTOC____14455.aspx

Containment Measures

Voluntary Isolation of Ill Persons

Isolation is the reduction of contact between an ill individual and other persons to limit the transmission of illness from person to person. An ill individual may not require hospitalization, but may remain at home volunatarily for the duration of the infectious period of their illness, approximately 7-10 days following symptom onset. The success of voluntary isolation of ill individuals is dependent on prompt recognition of the illness symptoms and appropriate use of hygiene and infection control practices in the home setting.

Source: www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/community_mitigation.pdf

Voluntary Quarantine of Household Members of Ill Persons

Quarantine is the confinement of persons who have been exposed to an ill individual. Members of a household of an ill individual may be at risk of becoming infected. Those exposed household members may be asked to stay home for an incubation period, approximately 7 days following the time of symptoms onset in the sick household member. If family members become ill during this period, the recommendation is to extend the time of voluntary home quarantine for another incubation period, 7 days from the time that the last family member becomes ill.

Compliance with voluntary quarantine will serve to reduce community transmission from members of households in which there is a person sick with the flu. Success requires prompt and accurate identification of an ill individual in the household, voluntary compliance with quarantine by household members and proper infection control measures in the home.

Source: www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/community_mitigation.pdf

Vaccines and Antivirals

Vaccines

Vaccines are given as a preventive measure. Once innoculated, the body is then poised to fight or prevent infection more effectively.

Influenza vaccines are designed to protect against specific viruses. The seasonal flu vaccine is prepared annually depending on the viruses predicted to circulate the globe that year. It takes approximately 6-9 months to develop a vaccine for distribution. Vaccines will not prevent you from getting the flu, but will lessen the effects of the flu should you get it. Annual flu shots are strongly recemmended.

A specific pandemic flu vaccine cannot be manufactured at this time. It would take 6-9 months following the mutation that causes human-to-human transmission for the vaccine to be available for distribution. Manufacturers are developing and testing vaccine on H5N1 as it currently exists which may be of some protective benefit. It is predicted that a specific vaccine would not be available for the first wave of the pandemic and, once produced, will initially only be available in limited supply.

Once the vaccine is available, the State would receive the supply of vaccine from the federal government and would distribute the vaccine according to a pre-determined set of priorities. The vaccine would likely be administered to persons of high risk, and to those persons providing essential services.

For more information, see www.maineflu.gov and www.pandemicflu.gov.

Antivirals

Antivirals (such as Tamiflu and Relenza) are drugs that may be administered to help prevent viral infections in people at risk (exposed), or to lessen the symptoms and reduce the potential for serious complications in those persons infected with influenza. Manufacturers are developing new drugs and working to increase the supply of antivirals. The effectiveness of the antivirals depends in part on early administration, within 48 hours of symptom onset. Currently there is only a limited supply of antivirals world-wide. The US government is developing a national stockpile of antivirals to help treat and control the spread of disease. They would be transported to the state for distribution.

For more information, see www.maineflu.gov and www.pandemicflu.gov.