Durham Region Pandemic Influenza Planning
Influenza is a serious respiratory illness caused by an influenza A or
an influenza B virus. A pandemic is an outbreak that occurs worldwide,
affecting a large number of people. A pandemic influenza happens when
a new type of influenza virus develops that humans have no immunity against.
All previous pandemic influenzas were caused by the influenza A viruses.
There have been three pandemics in the last century with the most severe
being the 1918-19 Spanish Flu where 20 to 40 million deaths occurred worldwide.
The other pandemics were less serious than the Spanish Flu, but still
caused significant illness and deaths.
With the spread of the avian influenza virus H5N1 through Asian, African
and European countries, the possibility for a pandemic to happen has increased.
Many experts believe that a pandemic is certain to happen, but when it
will happen is not known.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international health agencies,
including Health Canada, have recommended the development of pandemic
plans to help reduce the impact of the next pandemic on the world’s
population.
In 2002, Durham Region Health Department developed a pandemic influenza
plan for the Region. This plan has been revised for 2006. The revised
plan is designed to meet the needs of the community and reflect information
outlined in current plans that have been developed by Health Canada and
the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC).
This Web page will highlight developments in the Durham
Region Health Department Pandemic Influenza Plan and will also provide
links to provincial and national plans, related topics and Web sites,
providing both in-depth and up-to-date information about the ongoing planning
for a pandemic influenza.
Durham Region Pandemic Influenza Information
Infection Control Procedures
Other Pandemic Influenza Plans
Related Links
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