Publications

Focus on Infectious Diseases

Vol.3, No. 2 Summer 2005

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Pandemic Influenza Contingency Planning: CSC Update

By Sylvie-Anne Lavigne
A/Senior Project Officer, CSC-NHQ Health Services, National Infectious Diseases Program

In 2001, a Pandemic Influenza Committee (PIC) was created with the mandate to develop the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan. The Plan was released in February 2004 . Members of PIC consisted of federal, provincial and territorial representatives, and community organizations. The goal of the Plan is to minimize serious illness and death in the event of an influenza pandemic and to ease any social and economic disruptions. In addition to background information, the Plan includes guidelines, checklists, and other documents to assist all jurisdictions in planning and responding to a pandemic. Specifically, Annex G, Section 6.2 of the document acknowledges health care service requirements for correctional institutions. To view the Plan, please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) website at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cpip-pclcpi/index.html

In February 2004, a series of meetings involving all Federal Government Departments took place. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the growing global concern regarding the spread of the virus H5N1 to East Asia and to ensure that every level of government continues the pandemic influenza preparedness process. The outcome of these meetings was the development of a document entitled Roles & Responsibilities of Other Government Departments during Pre-Pandemic & Pandemic Phases of Influenza, March 2004. The document outlines various actions that Federal Departments would undertake for Health Canada (now known as the Public Health Agency of Canada) and reciprocally what actions and services Health Canada would provide to federal and provincial/territorial governments.

In May 2005, Dr. Ron St. John and Dr. Art Davies from PHAC were invited by CSC management to informally discuss pandemic influenza. Dr. St. John provided an overview of activities completed by PHAC in preparation for an outbreak in any Canadian community, gave an update on the Avian Flu activity in East Asia, and expanded on the expected revisions to the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan.

Consequently, under the direction of the Acting Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs (A/ACCOP), CSC has established a National Pandemic Influenza Contingency Planning Working Group that will develop a comprehensive strategy for responding to a pandemic influenza outbreak within a correctional environment. The group will be working jointly with Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada and PHAC. Ms Teresa Garrahan, Regional Infectious Diseases Coordinator (Ontario Region) is representing the Health Services Branch on the Working Group.

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