Is Chesterfield ready? Pandemic flu could be a possibility
By Susan Nienow
 

Covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze and cough is an easy way to help curb the spread of the flu virus.

Chesterfield officials aren't sure if or when a flu pandemic might strike, but they're preparing just in case.

Dr. William Nelson, director of public health for the Chesterfield Health District, believes a pandemic flu "is certainly a possibility," but "something like [the] 1918 [pandemic] is unlikely."

In 1918, more than 500,000 people died in the United States when a flu pandemic swept the nation. Ultimately, it affected onethird of the population. "It spread across the country in four weeks," said epidemiologist John Ambrose.

Pandemics occurred again in 1957 and 1968. In 1957, 70,000 people died in the United States. In 1968, 34,000 people died.

In a normal flu season, between 5-20 percent of the population suffers from the flu. Over 200,000 are hospitalized and 36,000 die each year. Most deaths are in the elderly population.

Pandemic flu occurs when a new influenza virus appears in humans and spreads easily, because people haven't built up immunity.

While health officials aren't sure where the next pandemic might originate, they are currently monitoring bird flu very closely. As the avian virus travels throughout flocks of wild waterfowl, there is concern that it might begin to spread from human to human.

The avian virus kills domestic poultry.

So far, humans who have contracted the bird flu have all had very close contact with the birds. Since 2003, 232 human cases of the avian flu virus have resulted in 134 deaths in the world.

"There will be a change in the virus that means it attacks the population," Nelson predicted.

But healthcare is more advanced now than it was during past pandemics, and "information travels fast," said Nelson, adding that towns, regions or even countries can use quarantines to slow the spread of disease. "SARS was stopped in its tracks, [though] it was not an influenza [virus]," said Nelson.

How Chesterfield is preparing

The county's emergency preparedness plan addresses pandemic flu and other types of disasters. Chesterfield has hired a pandemic flu team to help with education. "We have already started working with the local airport, businesses and agencies," said Ambrose.

Since a pandemic would potentially impact the health of thousands of people, experts predict it could have a crushing impact on the economy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the economic cost for a typical flu is $37.5 billion nationwide. The CDC predicts a medium level pandemic would cost $71-$166 billion.

As the virus spreads, it will be more difficult to keep society functioning.

The health department is advising businesses that they should plan to operate with as little as 50 percent of their staff, since many employees may be sick while others will be forced to stay home to care for ill family members.

The health department already has plans in place should county residents need to be quarantined from the general population. "If there is any kind of incident, we would mobilize for communicable disease control, [whether it is] influenza, salmonella like we had at the Bon Air Correctional Center, TB in a school or a bio terrorist act - smallpox, plague or anthrax," said Nelson.

To accelerate the diagnosis of pandemic flu, an epi-response team of 25 nurses has been trained in public health to investigate, collect samples and do statistical analysis. They are regular employees of the health department and work as school nurses or in other public health positions, explained Ambrose.

The team currently investigates food safety and outbreaks of norovirus, salmonella, infectious pneumonia and other health problems found in institutions such as correctional facilities and nursing homes.

Preparations are also being made so the county health department will be able to vaccinate large numbers of people against the flu virus in case of a pandemic. "We are developing a medical reserve corps. If needed, they can be called in," said Nelson.

If a pandemic occurs

The health department is urging the public to educate themselves about pandemic flu.

Many people confuse the common cold and flu. Cold symptoms include a fever in children, but rarely in adults, a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat with a mild hacking cough.

The flu, however, includes a fever that's usually 102F or higher, a sudden headache that is sometimes severe and muscle aches. Tiredness and weakness can be extreme, lasting two or more weeks. A runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and cough may be also present.

Since the influenza virus is airborne, people should practice "social distancing," giving everyone a three-foot zone of breathing space, if an outbreak occurs.

At any given time there are more than two billion bacteria and viruses on your hand. Frequent hand washing helps prevent many common illnesses, and will help curb the spread of flu during a pandemic.

Using antibacterial wipes is better than not doing anything, but the most effective way to kill germs on your hands is to scrub themwith soap, rinse with running water, and then dry them with a clean towel, explained Ambrose. Also avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Stay home when you are sick and make as few trips out as possible. Avoid places where large numbers of people gather.

To learn more about pandemic flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic or www.pandemicflu.gov.

Pandemic flu checklist
The following are just a few ways you can prepare for pandemic flu:

   Store a two-week supply of water and food. During a pandemic, if you cannot get to the store, or if stores are out of supplies, it will be important to have extra supplies on hand. Keep the following items for an extended stay at home: ready-to-eat canned goods, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola, peanut butter or nuts, dried fruit, crackers, canned juices, bottled water and specialty items like baby food or pet food if needed.

   Have any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes and vitamins.

   Assemble other useful items including soap, flashlights, batteries, a portable radio, manual can opener, garbage bags, toilet paper, disposable diapers and other essentials.

   Talk with family members and loved ones about how they will be cared for if they get sick.

   Volunteer with local groups to prepare and assist with emergency response.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.