Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Preface		HTML
Section One: Introduction		HTML
Section Two: Background		HTML
Section Three: Preparedness		HTML
Section Four: Response		HTML
Annexes
Annex A:	Glossary of Terms	HTML
Annex B:	Pandemic Influenza Planning Considerations in First Nations Communities (June 2005)
Annex C:	Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan: Laboratory Procedures
Annex D:	Recommendations for Pandemic Vaccine Use in a Limited Supply Situation
Annex E:	Planning Recommendations for the Use of Antivirals (Anti-Influenza Drugs) in Canada During a Pandemic
Annex F:	Infection Control and Occupational Health Guidelines During Pandemic Influenza In Traditional and Non-Traditional Health Care Settings
Annex G:	Clinical Care Guidelines and Tools
Annex H:	Resource Management Guidelines for Health Care Facilities During an Influenza Pandemic
Annex I:	Guidelines for the Management of Mass Fatalities During an Influenza Pandemic
Annex J:	Guidelines for Non-Traditional Sites and Workers
Annex K:	Communications Annex
Annex L:	Federal Emergency Planning Documents

Preface

Influenza A viruses periodically cause worldwide epidemics, or pandemics, with high rates of illness and death. Advanced planning for a large scale and widespread health emergency is required to optimize health care delivery during a pandemic. Unlike other public welfare emergencies, an influenza pandemic will impact on multiple communities across Canada simultaneously. Each local jurisdiction must be prepared to respond in the context of uncertain availability of external resources and support. Therefore, contingency planning is required to mitigate the impact of an influenza pandemic through planning and preparation by the co-ordinated efforts of all orders of government in collaboration with their stakeholders.

The Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan (the Plan) consists of an introduction and a background section, followed by the preparedness, response and recovery sections, which are consistent with the general principals of emergency response. Each section aims to assist and facilitate appropriate planning at all levels of government for the next influenza pandemic. The Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (CIDPC), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Health Canada coordinated the development of the Plan in collaboration with the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response (CEPR), Health Canada, with direction from the Pandemic Influenza Committee (PIC).

The Plan and the annexed guidelines, checklists and other documents were developed to assist all jurisdictions with the main components of planning, including surveillance, vaccine programs, use of antivirals, health services, emergency services, public health measures and communications. The most effective public health intervention to mitigate the impact of a pandemic is through immunization with an effective vaccine against the novel virus, and, to a lesser extent, through the use of antiviral drugs. In addition, comprehensive planning requires that appropriate surveillance capacity is in place, and that the health sector, emergency services and communities as a whole are informed and equipped to deal with a pandemic.

The prevention and preparedness activities facilitate the response and recovery during and after an influenza pandemic. The response to a pandemic will require close cooperation between all levels of government. The response and recovery sections of the Plan were developed through a collaborative process between the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response, and the CIDPC, Health Canada. The response section of the Plan addresses the operational activities for an effective national response, including essential federal, provincial and territorial coordination. The recovery section provides guidance on coordinated post-event activities for the health and emergency response sectors.

The overall goal of pandemic influenza preparedness and response is first to minimize serious illness and overall deaths, and second to minimize societal disruption among Canadians as a result of an influenza pandemic.

The Plan is intended to be dynamic and iterative, and will be updated and revised regularly.

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INFORMATION NOTICE

The Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan (the Plan) was developed through a collaborative process between Federal, Provincial, Territorial, local and regional governments and non-government stakeholders.

Development of the Plan was coordinated by Health Canada with direction from the Pandemic Influenza Committee, a federal, provincial and territorial advisory committee. The Plan is provided for information purposes only as an outline for the planning, preparedness and response to pandemic influenza by governments within their respective roles and responsibilities.

Terms and definitions contained in the Plan are for convenience only. It is the User's responsibility to determine if any term or definition contained in the Plan is appropriate for the purposes for which it is intended to be used by the User.

DISCLAIMER

The views and recommendations expressed in the Plan represent a collaborative effort between Federal, Provincial, Territorial, local and regional governments and non-government stakeholders.

Users should seek their own legal advice in regards to their use of the information, views and recommendations contained in the Plan.