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<br />I. PurDose and Backaround - What is an Influenza Pandemic and why <br />are we DreDarina? <br /> <br />The purpose of this document is to outline a coordinated and rational City <br />response to possible to a possible outbreak of Pandemic Influenza (such as <br />AVIAN INFLUENZA I H5N1) or (Or H1 N1, formerly known as the swine flu) . <br /> <br />A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. An influenza pandemic occurs when a <br />new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the <br />human population, begins to cause serious illness and then spreads easily <br />person-to-person worldwide, the most serious of which could lead to significant <br />human deaths and social disruption. <br /> <br />Historically, the 20th century saw 3 pandemics of influenza: <br /> <br />. 1918 influenza pandemic caused at least 675,000 U.S. deaths and up to <br />50 million deaths worldwide <br />. 1957 influenza pandemic caused at least 70,000 U.S. deaths and 1-2 <br />million deaths worldwide <br />. 1968 influenza pandemic caused about 34,000 U.S. deaths and 700,000 <br />deaths worldwide <br /> <br />Characteristics and challenges of a pandemic: <br /> <br />1. Rapid Worldwide Spread <br /> <br />. When a pandemic influenza virus emerges, its global spread is <br />considered inevitable. <br />. Preparedness activities should assume that the entire world <br />population would be susceptible. <br />. Countries might, through measures such as border closures and <br />travel restrictions, delay arrival of the virus, but cannot stop it. <br /> <br />2. Health Care Systems Overloaded <br /> <br />. Most people have little or no immunity to a pandemic virus. <br />Infection and illness rates soar. A substantial percentage of the <br />world's population will require some form of medical care. <br />. Nations unlikely to have the staff, facilities, equipment and hospital <br />beds needed to cope with large numbers of people who suddenly <br />fall ill. <br />. Death rates are high, largely determined by four factors: the <br />number of people who become infected, the virulence of the virus, <br />the underlying characteristics and vulnerability of affected <br />populations and the effectiveness of preventive measures. <br />. Past pandemics have spread globally in two and sometimes three <br />waves <br /> <br />Page 3 of 18 <br />