THIS IS AN EXERCISE. IT IS NOT REAL.
News reports state that the strain of influenza in Asia is behaving much like what is expected to cause pandemic flu. This strain of flu is easily transmitted from person to person, and humans have no natural immunity to it. The dense populations in Asia and India have created a firestorm spread of the disease, and hospitals are being overwhelmed by patients sick with influenza-like symptoms. European countries have several locations that have been hit by this flu strain.
Watch the mock news clip below by pushing the play button. For the purpose of the exercise, consider it something you would see on a morning television news show while you’re eating breakfast. What would you think about it? Would pandemic flu be something you’ve heard of before? How long do you think it would take to affect you personally? These are the types of thoughts you can comment on. Go ahead…leave a comment by clicking on the word “comment” right below where is says “this is an exercise. It is not real.” That’s how we at the health district will know what the public is thinking so we can adjust our planning and education efforts if needed.
If you can’t view the video, go to the youtube.com location at http://youtube.com/watch?v=zSjmNBYLvBE
As of 7:30am this morning, this strain of flu isn’t thought to have reached American shores, but with heavy airline traffic between the U.S. and Europe and Asia, it is probably just a matter of days until we see it here in America.
The chart above shows the phases and stages of pandemic flu for the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Federal Government.
See the source document at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html
The chart above shows the phase of pandemic flu. The blue line represents the number of people who are sick in the U.S. Notice that the line begins at the beginning of U.S. Stage 4. We are currently in U.S. Stage 0 in real-life. For this exercise, we are moving to the middle of Stage 5, where the blue line peaks at the top.
Links and Other Good Stuff:
www.pandemicflu.gov preparedness checklist page.
COOP introduction page at http://www.ready.gov/business/plan/planning.html
COOP instruction from FEMA at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS547.asp
How Business Can Prepare the Workplace: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/influenza_pandemic.html
Government personnel should consider: Creating or reviewing your Continuity Of Operations Plans (COOP). A template is available at http://www.fema.gov/government/coop/index.shtm.
Business personnel should consider: Create or review your Continuity Of Operations Plans (COOP). A template is availble at http://www.fema.gov/government/coop/index.shtm. Consider focusing on on supply chain issues that originate in Asia and Europe. Does your company need a plan to restrict travel to Asia if panflu is suspected there? Will you be able to maintain and repair your factory equipment if your mechanics are sick or delivery of repair parts is interrupted?
Private Citizens should consider: Personal Preparedness status by reviewing www.ready.gov for preparedness measures. Also consider family communications plans.
All readers are encouraged to leave a comment about the how this exercise scenario might impact your lives.
How to leave a comment: At the bottom of each post there, you’ll see the word “comment” that might also include “No Comments” or “3 Comments.” Click on that and then enter your comment in the “Reply” box. It’s a little hard to find, but please take the effort.
THIS IS AN EXERCISE. IT IS NOT REAL.
SDHD PanFlu BlogEx 
How to leave a comment: At the bottom of each post there, you’ll see the word “comment” that might also include “No Comments” or “1 Comments.” Click on that and then enter your comment in the “Reply” box. It’s a little hard to find, but please take the effort.
The story seemed very true to life except when the travel restrictions were
announced. I wondered if this would have occurred so rapidly in real life. In
addition, the mention of travel bans heightens the level of fear and anxiety
in the viewer- a number should be given so that people’s concerns can be dealth with directly- you’ll need to head off panic.
INL upper management would be briefed on the situation. The travel organization would notify those that are traveling of the situation. Management would encourage employees to conduct business via other avenues (e.g. conference calls, video conference) if possible. Individuals that have returned from the areas of interest would be contacted to ensure they are having no signs of illness and would continue to be monitored.
If you’re having trouble viewing the newscast, you can view the pandemic flu newscast directly from you tube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=zSjmNBYLvBE
We have been denied access to view the video at IDHW. We are trying to remedy the situation.
AT this point in time many US families sitting home would I think be saying, It will not make it to the US , let us just keep doing about our regular activities. Some might begin to stock supplies at home but very few.
Craig, you are probably right about that. I remember thinking that SARS would never be something I had to worry about, but that was before I worked in public health. One of the things we hope to get across to everyone is that a pandemic flu will end up in the US if it starts.
Darin Letzring
The mock newscast was very informative. One issue I had with it was in regards to the crawl at the bottom of the newscast. It would be extremely difficult to concentrate on what the reporters are saying while at the same time trying to read the crawl information. The information in the crawl should be available through an additional link or some other means rather than through the newscast alone.
The Marshall Public Library (of which I’m the Director) has already discussed and is discussing this possibility. If, as in the 1918 flu, all public gatherings and most private ones are banned — including church services, funeral except for the immediate family, parties, schools are closed, and so on — there will be a massive demand for information and recreation. Libraries can help supply that need, especially since we now have such things as full-text books (both audio and print) available on-line.
During the 1918 epidemic the Pocatello library closed and the librarians simply prepared the collection for when the library would reopen. We would do the same, but also offer electronic and, in some form, delivery services of books, videos, etc. to homes.
If worst came to ultimate worst, the Library could also be used as a command center or for a similar purpose.
As I said, this is still in the planning stages.
Mike D: All of your points are excellent. Thanks for chiming in.
A common misconception for business continuity plans in response to a Pandemic H591 Influenza outbreak is that everyone can just work from home. This is an option for some, but generally one needs to consider the facts of the potential technology impacts stemming from an Influenza Pandemic upon a network.
In December 2007 the Department of Homeland Security published “Pandemic Influenza Impact on Communications Networks Study” The Study was undertaken to address the following questions:
Will the telecommuting strategy succeed during a pandemic influenza?
What preparations can be done to better prepare for telecommuting during a pandemic
This study was coordinated under the DHS Office of Cyber Security & Communications (CS&C), which is the sector specific agency for Information Technology and Telecommunications as designated by the DHS National Infrastructure Protection Plan – 2006 influenza. I have put a link to this document below. I encourage you to read and understand the implications of this document before anyone finalizes their Pandemic Plan.
Link to report: http://www.teleworkexchange.com/townhallmeeting/pdfs/2008/Kretz%20Report.pdf
Idaho State University is the largest employer in Pocatello, so we should be hearing from their administration about plans to calm any fears among students and staff and the steps necessary to prepare the university should the pandemic flu make it to the US.
I have been aware of the progress of H5N1.
This video scenario made me uneasy. If I saw this on the morning news, I would probably plan to go out and buy more canned goods, move money to cash positions, get some cash out of the bank, inform my family and friends about the evolving situation and keep a close eye on the news.
Barb – Does the university have plans to monitor the health of students that may be coming to the university from other countries?
I’ve been following H5N1 since 2005 (after reading The Great Influenza). My first reaction would be the similar to Diane’s – email everyone in my addressbook; review what I would want to have stocked – get cash, food, prescriptions, etc.; coordinate plans with relatives who live closest to me; and pester the EHS specialist at work. Not necessarily in that order. I work at a university and am very interested in what Idaho State University has planned.
Ann: ISU’s plan can be found at http://www.isu.edu/pubsafe/Emergency_Response_Plan/Chapter_10_Pandemic_Flu_Response.html
You and Dianne both say you’ll take specific actions when word about the pandemic flu starts spreading on the news. I think you’ll find the banks and grocery stores very crowded with people and empty of the things you want (cash, groceries). The time to prepare is now. We have the preparedness kit shopping list available to for a budgeted build-up of supplies. It’s hard to put some cash into a safe place just in case, but that is a recommendation because of the expected run on the banks for cash.
Thanks for the comments!
I am a little confused by the last graph. My understanding from the message and the video is that it is in Asia and Europe yet the graph states we are in Stage 4 and moving to 5 yet it is not in the U.S. yet. Are you just stating that we will be moving in the direction of peak and thus in 4 or are you saying we are in 4 which means we have U.S. cases.?
Good question re travel for students. Have they been requested to return? Those in Asia would not be able to return and probably shouldn’t. Air travel, if this is human to human would be the best source for infecting many. Evaluation and maybe quarantining would be necessary upon entering the states which means airports would be establishing quarantining of some sort, otherwise, spread in U.S. is guaranteed.
I would think that the University administration would start formulating plans to deal with the inevitable.
Nez Perce County
The WHO declaration of Stage 5 activates both the Lewiston “Pandemic Flu Continuity of Operations” (COOP) Plan and a limited-staffed (health district and emergency management) Emergency Operations Center. Concurrent with these activations is coordination with chief elected officials and department heads. Local government actions at Stage 5 (COOP plan) include:
1. Regular emails to staff with important updates
2. Issuing gloves/masks to staff (wearing at Stage 5 would be a personal choice)
3. Rechecking with insurance carrier on pandemic planning and considerations/availability of benefits
4. Daily sanitation of physical workspace (door handles, telephones, keyboards, restrooms, break areas, multiple use equipment, etc.
5. All departments urgered to inimize face-to-face meetins
6. Review ‘work-from-home’ for eligible activities, should WHO pase 6 be declared
7. Test telephone tree with trial message
8. Confirmation of key employees and backup personnel
For chief elected official consideration, is activation of MOUs with critical suppliers. For example:
1. Chlorine (for water purification)
2. Basic food sources, such as the grain elevators.
Other activities: Review inventory of ORS components (sugar, salt)
Nez Perce County
When it becomes available, preliminary information from CDC on the attack rate, case fatality rate and age breakout of sick/fatalities will be helpful for future considerations.
Mike Doyle: I can understand your confusion. To clear it up….for the exercise we should be in USG Stage 3 “Widespread Outbreak Overseas.” By next week in the exercise, we’ll be at Stage 5c on that chart.
Concerning travel: With Idaho State University in Pocatello, travel restrictions are a real concern. The health district has the authority to install mandatory restrictions but we do not want to do that. We will start with “recommended” voluntary restriction of travel. The ISU plan should address international student travel issues.
Thanks!
Darin
I think people’s first reaction will be that this is not a big deal. The outbreak is in Thailand, which is a long ways from the US, and people will think it’s their problem and not ours. Most Americans probably see themselves as very different from people living in Thailand, which means we do not think it’s likely that the same thing that is happening there will happen here. For example, we are a more industrialized nation that is better able to deal with such a potential crisis.
Also, Americans are used to the news making stories appear bigger and more important than they really are. This is another reason why I think most people will not be very concerned based on such a news program.
However, I do think people will be concerned about giving our medication to Thailand and not leaving enough for ourselves if an outbreak were to occur in the US. People are more likely to want to help others they see as belonging to the same group as themselves (other Americans) than people belonging to another group (living in Thailand).
Hi Folks,
Should this be appearing on the radar, I’d be grabbing my daughter, packing my bags and heading towards our house outside of Ketchum to hopefully self isolate myself. We are pretty well self contained except for long term food supplies which certainly would need to be addressed before we went into the cayon. While there, I should be able to maintain critical communications links to BHS if we did not have IT issues in Boise due to illness rates.
Steve
Employers response plans should include limited work week hours, alternative workplace plans (work at home), and emergency leave to prepare if needed.
Pandemic response requires a drastic change in daily routine. In the immediate time-frame before local outbreak occurs, civilian population should be busy making final preparations, not starting them (too late, too little goods in consumer supply chain to meet massive last-minute demand).
While the idea of downloading books is appealing, library client access should be restricted to fiber-optic connections only. Lower transfer rate lines (DSL/dial-up) access should be blocked, because it will be quite easy to swamp these systems with large file downloads.
It would be much more sensible if the library provided community access to emergency system information, rather than have local residents rely on TV/cable or radio networks.
Many probably don’t know it, but syndicated network purchase of local stations has severely reduced the number of local information sources (TV/radio stations). Large cable network operators, dish networks and radio stations offer national, not local news. Local news is a specialized feed for these media sources and may be curtailed/highly limited for immediate access by locals.
I presume you would want to know of local emergency response plans/requested civilian actions and notifications, correct? Therefore, using public libraries as a broadly-accessible local information resource would seem to make sense.
I would notify our nursing staff and the Infection Control Officer of the events. While monitoring I would go through our plan and start to prepare based on the information given and the spread of the bird flue. The administration wouild be contacted and we would discuss how we are going to handle the bird flue if it started to spread toward the US.
There would be no way to run away from an H5N1 pandemic. Too many birds. If such did break out we would have to recognize the fact that it would be endemic for years to come, much like rabies is in the US.
Those who ran would be exposed to it upon their return. Personally, I’d rather stay in town where there are medical facilities (even if they are swamped) than out in the woods relying on hand-holding and prayer.
The facts have to be faced and faced squarely: a lot of people would die. There would have to be triage so that who would benefit most from medical aid would get it and those who would be most likely not to benefit would receive pallative treatment (which was pretty much ALL that was available in the 1918 epidemic).
Four stars for the news broadcast – very good.
I’m disapointed with the assumption that “the government will make descisions”. HHS PlanFirst webcasts (source:http://www.pandemicflu.gov/news/panflu_webinar.html) point not only to preparation plans but testing. Can people work with N-95 mask and do they know how to put one on?
Unlike SARS, it has been said that people will shed the H5N1 virus *before* showing any symptoms or rise in temprature.
Yes, telework is not for everyone. School closures / day care closures would impact many people.
Many news casts have “for more information see our website” – will that be covered?
If the WHO is at level 5 – what level is the U.S. at?
This is my first pandemic incase any of the questions are off base.
Thank you and your staff for doing this.
Regards,
Kobie
“I can not lead people who are unable to follow” – Admiral J. Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services. This goes for me too.
Hi Everyone. This is Darin, the BlogEx coordinator. I’ve seen this mock news clip at least one hundred times (really!), and I hadn’t noticed before that it states the WHO is at Stage 5. In an earlier comment, I said the US is at US Stage 3, which would require a WHO Phase of 6. The differences between WHO and the US Government (USG) stages can be confusing. So, it is better to say that the US Government is in stage 2, which is part of the WHO Phase 5. That’s not to say that the US couldn’t decide to be in a phase that is not congruent with the WHO Phase, such as US Government Stage 6 while WHO is in Phase 5. The bottom line is that at our local health district, we’ll be taking cues from the Health and Human Services (HHS) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Various notes about comments:
– There is lots of good discussion being generated. Exactly how we’ll learn about public perception. Of course, we also have people hearing about pandemic flu for the first time and some folks who have been dealing with it for several years.
– Rural areas in southeast Idaho should be prepared for an influx of urban populations as they flee to perceived safety. If Salt Lake residents flee to Montpelier or Preston or Malad near the Utah borders, they will add to the problems of overwhelmed local resources such as grocery stores, medical services, and infrastucture such as traffic on streets, sewer systems, and such.
– Mel has added many good steps that should be taken. As a county emergency manager, he probably has a plan with a checklist of tasks for each phase. The checklists for each different phase are one of the most important planning pieces.
– At this point, the Southeastern District Health Department would be opening the Operations Section of the Emergency Operations Center to engage the epidemiologists and work with IDHW and CDC as needed.
Mike D:,
Has your library looked at setting up dioramas of 1918 as well as show casing books about H5N1?
There was talk on FluWiki about people putting open source books on CD for people to check out of library and read.
In case people do act instead of re-act then library may be a good starting place for support and information.
Barbara Cunningham,
I’ve read recommendations are for universities to close down leaving only a skeleton crew to monitor buildings and any lab rats left behind. There are many issues about re-embursement for the semester, pay for teachers, and cafeteria food spoilage.
It is a problem because college kids are in the age range hit hardest by H5N1 are least, yes least, likely to survive should they get sick. Source is WHO fatality by age graph at http://www.wpro.who.int/NR/rdonlyres/FD4AC2FD-B7C8-4A13-A32C-6CF328A0C036/0/S4_1113.jpg
Regards,
Kobie
“Everything I know never changed my mind as much as the one thing I did not” – Kobie of FluWiki
I am a veterinarian and anticipate there would be a possibility of my hospital/equipment being co-opted by the human healthcare system if the pandemic caused severe overflow at the human hospital. At this point, I would have my staff order a six months’ supply of intravenous fluids, and would order additional IV antibioitics, just in case.
I really like Diane’s suggestion of stocking up on non perishable foods and getting some extra cash.
A few more general notes from the BlogEx coordinator:
– “INL” posted by Kally is the Idaho National Laboratory. This is a major facility in the desert of the Snake River Plain in eastern Idaho. It’s great to have them participating. Thanks, Kally!
– Business Continuity awareness is a goal of this BlogEx. Small businesses may not have an idea of what business continuity of operations is about because it can be considered a new version of an old idea. Small businesses being a majority of our econcomy, it will be vitally important for them to have a plan. Many of the large businesses in southeast Idaho have a large headquarters with specialized staff developing continuity plans, which is great. If you’re a small business owner or operator, please take a look at the FEMA COOP templates and ready.gov for business link.
– For attack rates of the virus, I’ll start putting those numbers out next week when pandemic flu hits the shores of the U.S. and comes to southeast Idaho. Tomorrow will have some basic planning factors for viewing. Thanks for the question!
– Veterinarians and their facilities are on the planning radar. Thanks for commenting, and we’ll be talking to you in the future!
– I’d like to note that the video was provided by the CDC as part of a training package. They really are a great educational tool.
I like what Tera had to say. After all people didn’t think 911 could happen to America. Pandemic flu certainly can. Education is paramount and utilizing the media to our benefit with prearranged agreements that they will only distribute accurate info not conjecture.
I took a poll today of my staff at Student Health, should the flu arrive in the US or ID, out of 22 staff I will have 3 confirmed to be here with 3 maybes. One nurse, one admin, one provider. Request has been put into PA program and College of Technology on how they might be able to help. Makes me wonder about where the help will come from if we are overrun, which we will be, as will the hospital. Medical Reserve Corps? I think they will be overrun and spread thin as well.
We are in the process of developing a phone triage form for the flu so we can determine whether they should stay home, or need to be seen at SHC or if they have to go to the hospital.
I am loving this-a great mental exercise and marvelous way for us to think about what we are going to do, what is realistic.
Thoughts to ponder
For every response and recovery action there must be a planning and preparedness action. The question then becomes, if we know how we are going to respond, and recover what planning and preparation foundation is in place to support those actions. The most effective response to a pandemic, without a vaccine, is to reduce transmission of the virus. Social distancing and non-pharmaceutical interventions are effective, but who makes the decision to close theaters, shopping malls, schools, and when will they be made. What plans are in place to close non essential functions in government or the private sector to redirect resources to essential functions in the jurisdiction?
At this point in the scenario it may be the time that community leaders refresh themselves on the planning and preparations that are in place and possibly decide what actions they will take should the situation worsen. One of the most difficult response actions is risk communications. How will the officials get to word to the citizens regarding the current situation, what the future situation looks like, and what actions they want them to take with regard to social distancing, non-pharmaceutical interventions, and general actions?
Tera Letzring expressed the thoughts I had while watching the video. The report was “25 new cases” way over in Thailand. After seeing such a news report I would maybe get a bottle of anti-flu medication the next time I went shopping and keep my ears opened.
I was distracted by the statements running at the bottom of the screen.
“I’ve read recommendations are for universities to close down ”
Another option would be to seal off the university. Different problems with logistics and acceptance of course, but the problems with this should be weighed against the problems with closing down.
For those interested in preparing for pandemic flu, I would invite your visiting http://www.getpandemicready.org. This non-commercial site was written by eight people from around the country, and is hosted by Nez Perce County.
We have printed a copy (comb bound) for each city employee – the premise being that local government employees absolutely must be prepared in order to do their jobs in the public service. Difficult to do if you are worried about enough food, meds, etc. for your family.
This would be a nice adjunct for business continuity as well.
Mel: I added your excellent resource to a couple of the category lists on the right of the screen. Thanks!
Good to see some early thinking about non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Given the lag time for an assured effective vaccine (say 6 months after onset), these (NPIs) actions look save lives in the first wave.
A few folks have mentioned school closure as one example of a way to reduce transmission, and the history of 1918 indicates this to be of great importance. CDC (in “Community Strategy for Pandemic Infleunza Mitigation in the United States”) recognizes the difficulties. What do you do with all the children? What is the impact if someone leaves work to stay with the children? What about school meal programs?
Despite these difficulties, the benefit of saving the lives of children is clearly documented, and to not take this action would be unconscionable.
The dicey part (perhaps a follow-on to your exercise), is determining when schools should be closed. Too early, and there is economic harm for no benefit; too late, and the virus has spread to many, many children (and their families).
The lack of resolution of this important issue (school closure) hinders both school board/administration preparation, and their ability to help the preparation effort though students bringing clear information to their homes.
IMO, this is where the State has an important role. I would like to see the state send each school district a letter with clear guidance about how (under what conditions) and when teachers and staff would be provided unemployment compensation during a pandemic-caused public health emergency.
This could take the financial issue off the table, and help us focus entirely on saving the lives of the children.
not sure where the smiley face came from (above)…should be a close parenthesis symbol.
The health district presented to all the school districts in southeast Idaho last spring (yes, we went to every school in the area!). We discussed if/when the schools will close. Some will simply shut their doors early. Others will keep them open as long as possible and then continue classes via the internet. There are as many different strategies in the schools as there are schools. I would like the public to know that we have talked to all the schools about this. If you are a concerned citizen, call up your school district and ask what their plan is.
Self -imposed isolation/quarantine is one of the non-pharmaceutical containment measures that could be used to protect oneself should a Pandemic occur. The basic premise of this action is to avoid exposure to the disease until an effective vaccine can be developed and distributed to every person (which could take months to a year or more). However, this course of action requires much advanced planning if it is to be successful. Steve Hayward’s comment showed evidence of his planning efforts. The time to prepare is now, not when the Pandemic is imminent.
Also, if tele-commuting is to be a viable alternative for any business during a Pandemic, the groundwork must be set in place, tested and utilized prior to the Pandemic making it a necessity.
Thank you for bringing the public in on this thought-provoking exercise. What a great idea!
Should ISU be closed down it is I assume in some ones plan that it be a potential alternate care site and would need food services , Food also would be needed at other care sites and hospitals.
Craig: a location at ISU is a planned alternate care site. Food for alternate care sites is often a discussion item in planning meetings. A planning point is that food for alternate care sites can come from schools’ storages if the schools are not operating.
Here’s a little thought. As a healthcare provider and the only provider in my little town, is it appropriate to think about vaccinating our healthcare providers first? I realize that this would not be immediate as the vaccine will have to be developed. How do we determine who gets the vaccine first?
Katy: yes, it is appropriate for you to think that way. Your emergency manager in Bingham County is Craig Rowland, known in Blackfoot probably more for his mosquito management knowledge (he’s very smart about them!). Contact him concerning the essential personnel list. We get numbers but not names at the heatlth district.
David at UC Davis has posted a fairly long post that is great, but it doesn’t look like it is showing up for all viewers. He discussed the impact on financial markets and having drugs set aside for emergency personnel. Here are my comments on that.
1. The Dept of Treasury conducted an exercise in 2007 that looked at macro-level impacts of pandemic flu on the financial sector. The after action report can be viewed at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/financial-institution/cip/pdf/pandemic-flu-report-012008.pdf.
2. Local governments have drugs set aside for emergency personnel. Distribution is a local decision. Some of it was paid for by federal funds, others paid by State funds. Contact your local emergency official for details in your county.
Vaccines and specific social distancing issues will be discussed in future posts as the flu spreads throughout the world in the exercise scenario. We’ll discuss vaccination priorities, social distancing, school closings, and the ages of people who will be affected the most.
Craig Thomas,
Using ISU or any other building for overflow entails eight specific problems, one of which you mention.
1) Food services and clean up
2) Linnen services for bed sheets, etc.
3) Parking and supply flow management
4) Security and internal people traffic flow
5) IT for communication, patient records, admin support, time tracking, etc. There will be lots of phone calls.
6) Delayed reopening to care for recovering people and massive cleanup
7) Morgue facilities.
8) Providing Oxygen for ventilators. Providing medical labs for diagnosis.
Craig Thomas your question is good and these are some, *some*, of the questions.
Kobie
We choose to do these things “not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win” – John F. Kennedy at Rice University, TX. September 12th, 1962
Sorry, that little smily face was not intended. I’m still getting use to emoticoms.
As part of the news broadcast – I remeber ventilators where rushed to India when they thought they had some possible cases. Would that be the same for Thiland?
Would the U.S. send the USS Comfort as well as medical supplies?
Kobie
News story about what others are thinking, saying on “Deciding who gets the vaccine first” – Wed, July 16th, 2008
[snip]
A disease pandemic doesn’t have to exist to have a discussion about ethical dilemmas that could come with it, including:
How should limited, potentially life-saving resources like vaccines or ventilators be allocated? Do those who are sickest or those who are hardiest have first dibs when such resources are limited?
Held on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, it brought together public health officials from 35 states and territories.
[snip]
*SOURCE*
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/LOCAL18/807160404/1195/LOCAL18
It is unclear if this is the area to leave comment or in one of the divisions listed just below todays information.
While reading I could not concentrate from feeling the frustration of repeative preaching on the box ” be prepared”, Immediate Isolate, prevent contact, and contain.
Hospitals, clinics, er rooms, jails, church, special events, schools are areas that many people are going to be exposed.
Sick people are at the hospital, clinic, and etc. So WHY os a person coughing, feverish, even throwing up in the mist of others????
Why arent mask offered by the desk person if no one else?like the nurse or Dr (when they finially get to see the dr.
Persons calling for appointments and getting right in to the room for health care attention is ideal, isolation and containment of the spread (hand washing, covering of mouth etc perfect . and the improvement of ed.
Looking at the senerio and the number of people that are going to be absent: Any time there is illness curve in the community, there is that same call in /illness curve among the working health care. Health care worker pool sounds good. but actually not much of a solution.
It was interesting of the poll one person took of his office and that our of it there were 3 persons that could respond. Out of my area of 110 hx has shown that there would be maybe 2-3 persons available. this is just a guess. We seem to be seeing a distancing rather than advancement to go out of our area.
My thoughts go to the ventalation systems that are in the areas with the ill persons. If large gathering places are used to house persons the ventelator systems would have to be pre designed to maintain the room temp and ventalation.
I recall in a recent shelter of over 400 persons by the 2nd night the heating had to be cut down and within 2 hrs the stinch was unbelievalb. That was even with the availabliity of showers and clean clothing. The ventalation of persons with respitory problem and emesis and…
and lets not forget the ruleings now for animales. I started to talk about the sick children.
guess your not wanting a book here. hahaha
thanks for a chance to discuss
PS
Thought should be for those persons that will be scared to death, not seeking anyone afraid of caughting the illness. Neighbor hood groups a must to get envolved early for accounting vulnerable persons, early organization of community leadership for community block containment.
Information as to how and where and when to pick up stockpiled supplies,meds etc without waiting in a line. perhaps arranging delivery. such as fedx corner drops to community stations rather than persons going to centers.
What I found most interesting was the reference to the financial markets. I believe that the first wave of real panic in regards to the pandemic would be for people to worry about their money. Nothing makes people panic more quickly than money, which can lead to much more immediately quantifiable losses than the flu. While much of the public would likely be in denial about the possibility of an American pandemic, few would discount the immediate impact that an Asian economic collapse would have on the US economy.
Particularly if such an outbreak were to occur during a time such as the present when the financial markets are already unstable, I think that there could be mass withdrawals from the banks. Use the recent bank run at IndyMac as an example of a concentrated crowd of people worried about their money, and amplify it ten or twenty times – and then consider that this could be happening in many places simultaneously. This would have three immediately measurable effects on containment:
1. Law enforcement would quickly wear thin.
2. The mobs of people at these banks could become prime breeding grounds for the disease and likely epicenters for its spread.
3. Reports of such bank runs would quickly make it worse.
The second thing that struck me is the reference to the two drugs that were effective in treating the disease. All retail supplies of these drugs would likely be bought within hours of the announcement. Would it be prudent for emergency response agencies to collect and inventory these supplies for measured distribution? Would this even be feasible? Are there any best practice emergency procedures for retailers to follow in a pandemic or will each store handle the distribution and sale of these drugs in their own way? What happens when they run out?
Kobie: Thank you for the information about actions universities should take. I am contacting ISU Public Safety and having them look at this blog. (Also, as an aside, over 90% of all Idaho practicing doctors are in private office -based practices, and we have found them to be a difficult group to reach.) Barb
A Pandemic Flu Plan for ISU is on our website at http://www.isu.edu/pubsafe. I know, having a plan is one thing, but exercises are vital in seeing where the problems are, etc. Darin has been working with different entities on campus and involving them in various exercises this month, although Public Safety is not fully involved (due to prior commitments). We also have a POD at the Pond SUB, don’t know if they are participating in these exercises or not. Well, I can’t stay and chat, but thanks for the opportunity to reply. Carol
Considering the severity of this situation, our first priority is the safety of our employees and the continuation of our operations to meet the needs of our customers. If we receive reports of increasing cases of the Bird Flu we are prepared to:
• Restrict travel to other cities and regions
• Provide timely updates to any changes in regards to our travel policy and site visitation restrictions
• Provide employees with information on how they can reduce their chances of contracting this serious illness
• Continue to follow the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the federal government and the local governments where we operate
Our goal is to manage this issue without disruption of our services to our customers. We have built flexibility into our manufacturing and distribution networks to ensure that we can continue to meet the needs of our customers, even when faced with potential disruptions to our normal operations. We achieved this flexibility by evaluating our current capacity and establishing a plan to reallocate production and/or logistics to other manufacturing and/or distribution sites should any one of our sites experience an issue with production or delivery.
We encourage employees to stay informed about the Bird Flu by monitoring the news media that serves your location and reviewing health precautions our health resources department will post if you work in regions experiencing isolated break-outs.
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