April 2006
Next GLASC Meeting
|
| Our next GLASC
meeting will be held on May 10, 2006 from 12 - 1:30 p.m. at
Caterpillar. Drinks will be
provided.
|
April Meeting Minutes
|
|
April 12, 2006
New Business:
 | Treasurer’s Report: $3,327.00 & 53 paid members. |
| Next month’s meeting will be May 10th
at the Caterpillar Visitors Center. This meeting will be hosted by Cat
Logistics. Time is 12 – 1 p.m. with no lunch. This is a follow up from
our February meeting. |
|
Just a
reminder…our meeting in September is on the 20th, not the 13th! |
|
Presentation:
| Dr. Thomas Chester with the Indiana State Dept. of
Health. |
| Flu pandemics in the U.S. All three (3) had huge
social & economic impact.
 | 1918 Spanish Flu |
| 1957-58 Asian Flu |
| 1968-69 Hong Kong Flu |
|
| Impact of pandemic influenza:
| Spreads rapidly throughout the world. |
| High morbidity. |
| Excess mortality. |
| Significant burden on medical system. |
| Social & economic disruption. |
|
| Influenza ABC’s
| Type A
 | Infects humans & animals (such as birds &
pigs) |
| Capable of major genetic changes resulting
in new virus subtypes. |
| Most severe illness. |
|
|
| Type B
| Infects only humans. |
| Less severe illness. |
| Minor genetic changes. |
|
| Type C
| Mostly asymptomatic infection. |
|
| Current Situation of Bird Flu:
| Too much misinformation. |
| In birds in Asia, Europe, & Africa. |
| NO infected birds in the western hemisphere. |
| It is safe to eat cooked chicken. |
| The threat to humans in the U.S. is not from
birds. It is from infected people after the virus changes to easily
spread from human to human. |
|
| Pandemic influenza is not seasonal.
| Typical influenza season occurs every winter
(Nov. – Mar.) |
| Pandemics can develop during fall, winter,
spring, & even summer. |
| Indiana State Department of Health now
conducts year-round influenza surveillance. |
|
| Onset and Course:
| Incubation period – 1 to 4 days. |
| Infectious period – 1 to 2 days before
symptoms through one week after onset. |
| Duration – About 7 days for typical
influenza. Probably longer with a pandemic strain. |
|
| Signs & Symptoms:
| Fever |
| Cough |
| Sore Throat |
| Muscle Aches |
| Conjunctivitis |
| Complications
| Pneumonia |
| Acute Respiratory Distress |
|
|
| Preventive Measures:
| Hand washing is critical. |
| Respiratory etiquette
| Cover mouth/nose when sneezing/coughing. |
| Discard used tissues. |
| Do not use handkerchiefs. |
| Stay home if ill. |
|
|
| Environmental Survival:
| Plastic & stainless steel (24 hours).
| Clean contaminated surfaces with 10%
bleach. |
|
| Cloth & tissue (15 minutes). |
| Hands (5 minutes). |
|
| Control Specifics Unknown:
| Will not know exactly how pandemic strain will
behave until it arrives. |
| CDC generating guidance on several issues.
| Health care (HCW, patient management,
triage) |
| Infection control (health care settings,
travel) |
| Disease control (quarantine, travel
restrictions) |
| Vaccines/anti-virals. |
| Communication templates. |
|
| Will most likely roll out information similar
to SARS outbreak. |
|
| Isolation:
| For those already ill. |
| Separates ill patients from those not ill. |
| Droplet precautions.
| Gloves |
| Surgical mask for HCW’s and patients. |
| Gown if doing procedures. |
| Hand washing. |
|
|
| Quarantine:
| For those exposed, but not ill. |
| Separates those exposed from those not
exposed. |
| Monitor for signs of illness. |
| Release if incubation period passes with no
signs of illness. |
| May be used during pandemic depending on
public heath need. |
|
| Challenges:
| Widespread: pandemic will likely occur
everywhere almost simultaneously. |
| Long term: successive waves may last a year or
more. |
| Essential services will have to be maintained
with as much as 1/3 of the workforce out sick at any one time. |
| Limited vaccines & anti-virals. |
| Two (2) doses of vaccine may be needed. |
| Major logistical issues for emergency
response. |
| Communication messages must be accurate, yet
allay panic. |
| Role of public health & private health care
delivery systems. |
|
| Take Home Message:
| Local response will be critical. Not much
state or federal support will be available. |
| Need to partner and plan NOW! |
| Experts say a pandemic is WHEN, not IF. |
|
| Resources:
|
|
| Meeting
concluded at 1:30 p.m. |
|
Executive Board News
|
| The next GLASC Executive
Board Meeting will be
on Thursday, May 4, 2006
at the Monical’s Pizza
at
11:30 am. |
|
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