What is seasonal influenza?
What is pandemic influenza?
Why do scientists expect another pandemic?
What can we do to prevent a pandemic?
What would the effect of a pandemic be in Alberta
Is Alberta ready?
What is Alberta's plan?
What should you do during a pandemic?
How can businesses plan for a pandemic?

What is seasonal influenza?

Every year, various strains of influenza virus circulate throughout the world, often causing local outbreaks. Canadians are infected by these different strains at multiple times during their life. Even though the virus may change slightly from year to year, most people will continue to have some protection against slightly changed viruses, particularly if they are immunized yearly. The best time to be immunized is during October and the first half of November – just before the influenza season starts.

What is pandemic influenza?

Of the three influenza virus types (A, B and C), only type A causes pandemics. Influenza A also infects birds (Avian Influenza) and mammals, including humans, pigs and horses. Three to four times each century a completely new strain of influenza type A virus emerges. If this new virus spreads easily from person to person, it could quickly travel around the world and cause serious illness and death for millions of people. This global epidemic is called pandemic influenza . A pandemic differs from the influenza we see every year in that everyone is at risk of infection with the new strain, larger numbers of people catch it, the illness is more severe, and more people die. Current vaccines will not offer protection.

Why do scientists expect another pandemic?

Experts predict a pandemic influenza will happen within the next few years.  Three to four times a century, a radical change will occur in the genetic material of the influenza A virus and a new subtype of the virus will suddenly appear resulting in a global epidemic, called a pandemic. In the 20th century, there were three pandemics – in 1918-1919 (Spanish Flu), 1957-1958 and 1968-1969. Experts predict an influenza pandemic is likely to occur within the next few years, possibly within one to three years.

What can we do to prevent a pandemic?

Because the influenza virus is highly infectious and has a short incubation period, there is no way to prevent a pandemic. However, there are ways to lessen the effect of a pandemic - to decrease the number of deaths and control the effect on Alberta’s health-care system.

Antivirals will not completely protect the entire population from pandemic influenza, nor stop the spread of the virus. It is therefore especially important to quickly develop and produce a vaccine, though this could take from four to six months.

A global network, coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO), is watching for new influenza strains. When the pandemic strain appears, this surveillance network will provide Canada with an early warning so we can start producing vaccine as quickly as possible.

What would the effect of a pandemic be in Alberta?

Experts believe a pandemic influenza virus could reach Canada within three months after showing up anywhere in the world. It would have its greatest effect on Canadians within five to seven months.

The effect in Alberta could be broad and severe. Compared to a non-pandemic year, there could be:

• four to seven times as many outpatient visits due to influenza.
• four to seven times as many hospitalizations due to influenza.
• eight to 20 times as many deaths due to influenza.
• a shortage of hospital beds.

Public services such as schools could be affected. Employee absences could make it difficult for private businesses to operate.

Is Alberta ready?

When pandemic influenza emerges next, all Albertans—including those who provide essential services and health care—will be at risk of getting ill. Public services such as schools could be affected. Employee absences could make it difficult for private businesses to operate.

The development of a provincial plan to prepare for an influenza pandemic will reduce the impact of the disease, but not eliminate it.

Alberta's plan aims to slow the spread of disease, minimize serious illness or death and avoid disruptions to essential community services.

What is Alberta's plan?

In 1999, the Alberta government began work to prepare the health system and the province for a pandemic influenza . Our response plan will be used in coordination with the regional health authorities’ plans and the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan.

The goal of Alberta’s plan is to reduce the number of influenza cases and deaths and minimize disruptions to daily life by providing access to appropriate prevention, care and treatment.

What should you do during a pandemic?

During a pandemic, health professionals will be extremely busy taking care of the ill and providing vaccine, when it becomes available.

There are things you can do to take care of yourself and your family.

• Wash your hands - this is one of the best defenses against influenza.
• Cover your cough.
• Get enough rest.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and pain.
• If you are ill, reduce your contact with others, especially seniors, children and people with chronic disease or weakened immune systems.
• Keep informed.

In a pandemic, Alberta Health and Wellness and your regional health authority will advise you about vaccine availability and any changes that may be made in health-care services to deal with the pandemic. Volunteers may be needed as contingency plans unfold. Your help will be appreciated.

How can businesses plan for a pandemic?

A checklist has been produced to help businesses in Alberta.

For more information, phone Alberta Health and Wellness (780) 427-7164 or visit our website at: http://www.health.gov.ab.ca/