Did you Know?

Another flu and cold season is upon us. It is predicted that a global Influenza Pandemic could erupt at any time, for which only a few of us may be prepared. Many church communities are making plans to manage the effects of this outbreak.

While guidelines to help us prepare for this pandemic BEFORE IT ARRIVES are available at the Parish Nursing Office, the following information offers some brief facts about Pandemic Influenza.

An influenza (flu) pandemic is a widespread outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza virus appears that people have not been exposed to before.
Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks of influenza

Pandemic influenza can cause serious illness because people do not have immunity to the new virus. Effective vaccines would not be immediately available and impacts on society would be significant.

Seasonal influenza is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus that occurs every year. Influenza viruses are passed easily through daily person-to-person contact. Although most people will recover, between 4,000 and 8,000 Canadians die every year from influenza or complications of influenza.

Seasonal influenza outbreaks are caused by viruses to which people have already been exposed. Influenza immunization is available to prevent widespread illness; impacts on society are less severe

Understanding influenza

There has been significant media attention to the topic of pandemic and avian influenza. It’s important to understand the differences:

Avian influenza (also known as bird flu) is a type of influenza virulent in birds. The avian influenza strain that has been attracting international media attention since 2004 has health officials around the world concerned because of the virus’s deadly effect in poultry and its ability to cause illness in humans. At present, the virus does not spread easily from person-to-person but this influenza virus can change (mutate) to the point that a completely new strain can evolve.

Pandemic influenza would occur if an influenza virus changes and becomes a new strain against which people have little or no immunity AND this new strain is easily spread from person to person. Many people around the world could become ill and possibly die. Influenza pandemics have occurred about three times per century.

Individual and Family Preparedness cannot be over emphasized.

More detailed information about Pandemic Preparedness and access to a checklist of supplies to assist you in your efforts in planning for an influenza pandemic, is available at
“http://www.chr.ab.ca” www.chr.ab.ca : click on emergency preparedness, then families and individuals, where you may print off two pages of suggestions for basic supplies to keep safely stored and readily available in the event of an emergency.

Preparedness is important! Make this a family project in 2009!