Pandemic Influenza (Flu)

• What is pandemic flu?
• What will the effect of pandemic flu be in Halton?
• What is being done to reduce the impact of the next pandemic?
• How is influenza spread?
• What can be done to avoid the flu and reduce the spread of infection?
• Will there be a vaccine during the next pandemic?
• Translated Resources
• Pandemic Flu Planning Resources
• Infection Control Resources
• Emergency Preparedness
• Related Links

What is pandemic flu?

• Pandemic flu is a worldwide outbreak of influenza.
• It happens when a new, highly contagious strain of flu virus appears in people, spreads and causes the flu worldwide.
• Pandemic flu seems to appear every 10 to 40 years.
• In the 20th century we experienced three pandemics.
• The Spanish flu of 1918 killed more than 20 million people worldwide. Since then, smaller pandemics have occurred in 1957 and 1968.
• No one knows exactly when the next pandemic will happen but experts believe we are overdue.

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What will the effect of pandemic flu be in Halton?

• It is predicted up to 35% of the population could be affected over the course of the pandemic causing much disruption in the community.
• Many people will be very ill in bed for many days or caring for family ill with the flu. Businesses will be impacted.
• Health care services will be severely burdened. Emergency workers including police, fire, ambulance, and health care workers will be in high demand and many may also be ill themselves.

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What is being done to reduce the impact of the next pandemic?

• Health Canada has developed a Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan that details how Canada needs to prepare for and respond to pandemic flu.
• Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long Term Care has also developed an Influenza Pandemic Plan based on international and national standards.
• At the local level, Halton Region has developed a Pandemic Influenza Response Plan (, 175KB) that will be reviewed and updated as new information becomes available.
• Halton Region will also be educating and assisting municipalities, health care organizations, emergency services, and local businesses as they develop their own plans.

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How is influenza (flu) spread?

• Influenza is a severe respiratory illness caused by the flu virus.
• It is spread easily from person to person through coughing, sneezing, or through contact with unwashed hands and contaminated surfaces such as phones, toys, and eating utensils.
• Symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.
• Previous flu vaccinations or infections do not provide lasting protection as the virus is constantly changing.

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What can be done to avoid the flu and reduce the spread of infection?

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or use waterless hand sanitizers when hands are not visibly dirty.
• Stay home if you are ill so that you don’t spread your germs.
• Don’t share personal items like utensils, water bottles and towels.
• Get your yearly flu vaccine. This will help protect against other circulating strains of flu.

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Will there be a vaccine during the next pandemic?

• During a pandemic, the new flu virus will be different from the flu viruses we have had in the past.
• A new vaccine will have to be made once the new flu virus has been identified.
• It will likely take at least four to six months to make a vaccine.

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Pandemic Flu Planning Resources

• What you should know about a flu pandemic
  Information for employers, emergency responders, faith groups and general public from Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care's website.
• Halton Region Operation "Flu-Phix" Exercise - Situation Manual (, 556KB)
• Halton Region Pandemic Influenza Response Plan: A "Tool Kit" for Business Continuity  (, 293KB)
  • Preparedness Checklist for your Agency (Rich Text Format, 137KB)
  • Action Plan Template (Rich Text Format, 19KB)
  • Essential Service Response Priority Listing (Rich Text Format, 56KB)
  • Essential Service Response Priority Listing (Microsoft Excel, 19KB)
• Halton Region’s Response Plan to Pandemic Flu (, 175KB)
• Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan
• Ontario Health Plan for an Influenza Pandemic (OHPIP) 2006 revision now available
  Ontario pandemic plan and fact sheets for health care professionals.
• Influenza Pandemic - Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care – Fact Sheets for Health Care Workers

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Translated Resources

• What you should know about a flu pandemic - Printable Fact Sheets in 22 Languages
  Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

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Infection Control Resources

• Hand Washing
• Why Don't We Do It In Our Sleeves? - Coughing Techniques (video)
• Proper Hand Washing Technique video
  Grey Bruce Public Health Unit
• Infection Control Posters
  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Cover Your Cough posters - Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

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Emergency Preparedness

• Halton's Emergency Preparedness Guide  (, 741KB)
• Personal Emergency Kit  (, 638KB)
  Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

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Related Links

• Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
   
• Pandemic flu resources for the wrokplace
  Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario (WSIB)
   
• Pandemic Influenza Portal
  One-stop access to information from Government of Canada departments and agencies on pandemic, avian and seasonal influenza.
   
• What you should know about a flu pandemic - Order the Booklet
  Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
   
• PandemicFlu.gov
  U.S. government website. Provides information on how we can prepare for a pandemic flu now.
  
  Checklists for:
  • Families and Individuals
  • Businesses
  • Community Organizations
  • Schools/ Colleges
  • Medical Offices
  • Faith Groups
  • Childcare and Preschool.
     
• Influenza Pandemic
  Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
   
• What you should know about the flu
  Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
   
• Pandemic Influenza
  Public Health Agency of Canada

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Last Updated - October 20, 2006