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Website by: Jared Warner |
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SOUTHWEST OHIO PUBLIC HEALTH REGION |
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Public Health Region
News
Emergency Preparedness Info - Tristate Medical Reserve Corps
Regional Planning Groups - Executive Steering Committee Coordinators - Regional Epidemiology / Disease Investigators
Local Health Departments
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Vaccine would likely not be available to treat pandemic flu for at least 6-9 months, or longer, after human to human transmission of the virus. It is impossible to accurately predict what areas of the world will be hit first, or how quickly it will spread. Because of this, it is difficult for local health departments to develop effective strategies for minimizing the impact of pandemic flu. The federal government is currently stockpiling antivirals for use during a pandemic, and plans to have enough to treat 25 percent of the population. A large part of public health planning is dedicated to operating mass dispensing clinics, where medication can be provided to our population very quickly in the event of an emergency, Current planning activities focus primarily on community and business education, determining the best social distancing methods for preventing the spread of pandemic influenza, and developing mass dispensing plans and protocols for distributing any vaccine or antiviral medication we may have. Health departments in the region are working hard to assure that we are as prepared as possible for this potentially devastating disease outbreak.
For more info, visit: PandemicFlu.gov: Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families |
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How Are We Preparing? |
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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily person-to-person, causes serious illness, and can sweep across the country and around the world in very short time. It is difficult to predict when the next influenza pandemic will occur or how severe it will be. Wherever and whenever a pandemic starts, everyone around the world is at risk. Countries might, through measures such as border closures and travel restrictions, delay arrival of the virus, but cannot stop it. Health professionals are concerned that the continued spread of a highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus across eastern Asia and other countries represents a significant threat to human health. The H5N1 virus has raised concerns about a potential human pandemic because: -It is easily spread -It is being spread by migratory birds -It can be transmitted from birds to mammals and in some limited circumstances to humans, and -Like other influenza viruses, it continues to change over time. |
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Pandemic Influenza |
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Question: Will
a pandemic influenza occur? If so, when will it happen? Answer: Many scientists believe it is only a matter of time until the next influenza pandemic occurs. The timing and severity of the next pandemic cannot be predicted. Influenza pandemics occurred three times in the past century — in 1918-19, 1957-58, and 1968-69.
Question:
Could terrorists spread the avian influenza viruses to create a worldwide
pandemic? Answer: Experts believe it is highly unlikely that a pandemic influenza virus could be created by terrorists. Developing a pandemic influenza virus would require extraordinary scientific skill as well as sophisticated scientific equipment and other resources.
Question: What
are the symptoms of avian influenza in humans? Answer: People infected with the current variety of the avian virus (H5N1) have shown everything from typical human influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, and other life-threatening complications. Symptoms of avian influenza may depend on which specific virus subtype and strain caused the infection.
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Frequently Asked Questions |