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Washington State Department of Health

Preparing for pandemic influenza:
 A Washington State Overview

Print version in PDF

Emergency Response Activities

Isolation:
For people who are ill Isolation involves separating people who have a contagious disease from those who are healthy. It includes restricting their movement to stop the spread of that illness.

Quarantine:
For people who have been exposed
but are not ill
Quarantine involves separating and restricting the movement of people who, while not yet ill, have been exposed to an infectious disease and may become ill and spread it to others.

Hospitals and Health Care
A pandemic would likely strain the capacity of hospitals and other health care providers. Major issues include:

  • Increased outpatient visits.

  • Increased hospital admissions.

  • Demand for intensive care and isolation
    facilities.

  • Staff and resource shortages.

A severe pandemic on the scale of the 1918 outbreak could make nearly two million people in Washington sick. More than 200,000 could need hospital care and close to one million may require a doctor.

Public health agencies are working with health care providers to plan for massive increases in hospital admissions and the need for health care services. That work includes plans for addressing staff and equipment shortages and identifying facilities to help when hospitals are over capacity.

Disease Control and Containment
Influenza virus is spread from person to person through close contact by droplets produced when an ill person sneezes or coughs. Early in a pandemic, isolating people who are sick is one approach that may be used to help slow the spread of flu.

It may also be necessary to check international travelers for illness or impose travel restrictions. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would provide technical assistance in evaluating international travelers. Once a pandemic is firmly established, these measures may not be effective.

Public health agencies may also discourage people from gathering in large groups – a step called social distancing.

Through all phases of a pandemic, the Department of Health will collaborate with local health agencies to monitor influenza conditions, provide guidance and technical assistance and develop plans for social distancing measures to decrease the spread of disease.

Local health agencies have primary responsibility for controlling and preventing infection in their communities. Measures to do this could include:

  • Separating well people from people who are sick or who may have been exposed to the virus.

  • Discouraging or canceling large indoor gatherings.

  • Closing schools – The local health officer has the authority to close schools and would do so in consultation with the Department of Health, local government officials and the school district


Food Safety

Planning for a pandemic is crucial to maintaining business operations, providing important services and products, and protecting the health of employees.

Avian influenza is not transmitted through properly cooked food. Most health experts agree the majority of avian flu infection in humans has resulted from close contact with infected domesticated poultry or related contaminated surfaces. If avian influenza were found in poultry in this country, local, state and federal agriculture officials would take immediate steps to contain the spread of the virus among the flocks.

The state Department of Agriculture works closely with commercial poultry operations that are participating in a national program to test healthy flocks for the presence of flu viruses. Should a flock test positive for flu viruses that could sicken people, those birds would be prevented from entering the food supply. Agriculture officials would then act quickly to ensure the virus could not spread to other poultry operations.

Disruption of Services
During a pandemic, services provided by medical facilities, banks, stores, restaurants, government agencies, transportation systems, and schools might be disrupted. Public gatherings such as concerts and worship services may be canceled.

People should prepare for a pandemic as they would for any other emergency, including maintaining supplies of food, water and other essential items. (See back cover for more information and a list of resources.)

Business and Government Preparedness
Businesses and government agencies must be prepared for large numbers of employees missing work for a variety of reasons. Illness, caring for family members or lack of transportation could keep people off the job.

Businesses should develop plans for operating during a pandemic. They should prioritize critical work functions and provide employees with the information and resources they need.

Public health, at the state and local levels, is working with businesses to encourage and assist with planning. The state Emergency Management Division and the Department of Health are working with other state agencies to ensure state government continues to provide essential services during a pandemic.

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Last Update : 02/13/2007 02:10 PM
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