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ATTACHMENT 1 PANDEMIC INFLUENZA OVERVIEW Pandemic Influenza poses one of the most significant known potential threats to public health. Pandemics differ from the seasonal influenza outbreaks that occur almost annually. Although seasonal influenza accounts for thousands of deaths in the United States each year, the populace tends to develop some natural immunity and vaccines are effective in helping to control the disease. Pandemic influenza occurs when a dramatically different strain of the virus emerges that few, if any, people have immunity. This lack of any immunity allows the virus to spread rapidly affecting large numbers of people worldwide. There have been three Pandemic Influenza outbreaks in the last century. The most serious of these occurred in 1918. The pandemic spread throughout the country in less than a month. With the increased mobility of the populace, it is likely that a pandemic today could spread even faster. A number of things can be assumed about any future pandemic. It is likely that many people of all ages will become ill. An effective vaccine will probably not be available for four to seven months. There will be huge demands for health care services and antiviral medications may be in short supply. The pandemic will affect both the workforces and all areas of daily life. There is increasing concern about the potential for a pandemic to arise from the widespread avian influenza (H5NI) outbreak across several continents. Although many officials believe it is inevitable that future influenza pandemics will occur, it is difficult to predict the severity or timing of the next pandemic. It is unknown whether it will be associated with the current H5Nl strain or an entirely different strain. Unlike other natural disasters, where disruption to business operations is usually infrastructure-related; disruption in the event of a pandemic would be human-resource oriented. In the event of a pandemic, the goal is to control the spread of the disease to minimize the numbers who become ill. Vaccinations may be the most effective, but it is likely that effective vaccines will not be available for many months following the onset of a pandemic. Existing antiviral medications mayor may not be effective in treating the illness. More basic control strategies such as social distancing, improved hygiene, isolation, and quarantine will be important in controlling the spread of disease. Pandemic Influenza Continuity of Operations Plan 26.