Pandemic 101

What is a pandemic:

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population, begins to cause serious illness and then spreads easily from person-to-person worldwide.

Why all the fuss:

The Pandemic could impact our personal lives, family, and work.

• Rapid Worldwide Spread

• Overloaded Health Care Systems

• Inadequate Medical Supplies

• Economic, Education and Social Disruption

To read more about the impact of pandemics see: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/general/whatis.html

Where we are now:

On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a global pandemic of novel influenza A (H1N1) was underway by raising the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6. This action was a reflection of the spread of the new H1N1 virus, not the severity of illness caused by the virus. At the time, more than 70 countries had reported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection and there continues to be ongoing community level outbreaks of novel H1N1 in multiple parts of the world.   To read more about the phases of a pandemic see:

• http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/

• http://www.flu.gov/faq/pandemicinfluenza/1123.html

Challenges Ahead

Communications and Information are Critical Components of Pandemic Response.  This novel influenza virus has been seen to be mild and most individuals have recovered fully from the illness.  However, the virus has the capacity to mutate into something much more severe, thus the constant vigilance by the World Health Organization (WHO), National Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of State Health and Human Services (DSHS), and Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services (DCHHS). See links below.  To be informed of the ongoing status of this pandemic see: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

Education and outreach are critical to preparing for a pandemic.  Understanding what a pandemic is, what needs to be done at all levels to prepare for pandemic influenza, and what could happen during a pandemic helps us make informed decisions both as individuals, as a district, community, state and nation.  Should this pandemic increase in severity, we as individuals and as a district must prepare our families and support County and City initiatives to protect and mitigate the effects.

At this time, CDC recommends the primary means to reduce the spread of influenza in schools and child care programs is to focus on early identification of ill students and staff, stay home when ill, and good cough and hand hygiene etiquette. Decisions about school and child care program closure are at the discretion of local authorities based on local considerations, including public concern and the impact of school or child care program absenteeism and staffing shortages.

The following are “Interim Recommendations: K-12 Schools” (as of 8/5/2009)

• School dismissal is not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and, in general, is not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school’s ability to function.

• Students, faculty or staff with influenza-like illness (fever with a cough or sore throat) should remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• Students, faculty and staff who appear to have an influenza-like illness at arrival or become ill during the day should be isolated promptly in a room separate from other students and sent home.
• Aspirin or aspirin-containing products should not be administered to any confirmed or suspected case of novel H1N1 influenza virus infection for children aged 18 years old and younger due to the risk of Reyes syndrome.
• Parents and guardians should monitor their school-aged children, and faculty and staff should self-monitor every morning for symptoms of influenza-like illness.
• Ill students should not attend alternative child care or congregate in other neighborhood and community settings outside of school.
• School administrator’s will communicate regularly with local public health officials to obtain guidance about reporting of influenza-like illnesses in the school.
• Schools can help serve as a focus for educational activities aimed at promoting ways to reduce the spread of influenza, including hand hygiene and cough etiquette.

Students, faculty and staff should stringently follow sanitary measures to reduce the spread of influenza, including covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or coughing or sneezing into their sleeve if a tissue isn’t available), frequently washing hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if hand washing with soap and water is not possible.  To see additional guidance for individual, community, state etc. see: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/

District responsibilities

Participate in County driven flu surveillance: (a) Staff members and students report to school nurse if experiencing influenza like illness (ILI) which are: fever, cough, sore throat, extreme fatigue, body aches.  (b) Parents inform schools when child is home with ILI.  (c) Attendance clerks continue to call parents of students absent for the day determining if student is absent with ILI symptoms.  (d) The attendance clerks send in “case counts” to Health Services.  (e) Cases referred to school nurse for appropriate follow-up (f) Health Services compiles total # of student and staff absences and submits to DCHHS. 

Educate staff, students and parents: (a) the importance of preventative measures: frequent handwashing, cough etiquette and social distancing (stay home when ill). (b) importance of parents notifying schools if child has ILI and (c) to follow health officials recommendations not to congregate in public places if threat of flu.

Seasonal and H1N1 Flu Vaccine:  Health authorities are recommending individuals obtain the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible.  The H1N1 flu vaccine may be available this month (September) or next month through Primary Care Physicians.  The H1N1 flu vaccine will be offered to patients at high risk thus individuals should contact their primary care physicians for guidance.  Health conditions at high risk are: pregnancy, asthma, diabetes, compromised immune systems or neuromuscular diseases.

Campus support measures:

(a) Attendance clerks are cognizant of role in flu surveillance and receives support for the time and effort to perform flu surveillance tasks.  (b) Provide parental education to ensure parents understand the importance of notifying the school when their child is absent and experiencing ILI. (c) School nurse informed of cases to provide follow-up support.

Community support measures:

Support efforts to inform public of social distancing; cough hygiene, hand washing and to seek medical care if experiencing ILI.  Parental education regarding reporting method when child is home ill from school.

Additional Resources: http://www.who.int/en/, http://www.cdc.gov/, http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm, http://www.hhs.gov/diseases/index.html, http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/, http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhservices/SeasonalInfluenza.html