The Church’s Mission
- To love one another as Christ loved us…
- To provide hope and compassion
- To take action when others are in need—as church we are called to respond to community needs

Pandemic & Emergency Planning
Influenza Pandemic and Emergency Preparedness update by Tri-diocesan committee of:
- Huron
- Niagara
- Toronto

Agenda
Objectives
- Pandemic/Disaster/Emergency Planning group
- Introduction to Influenza, Pandemic Influenza, Avian Influenza, the potential impact of an influenza
- Introduction to emergency/disaster planning
- To encourage congregations to begin planning and managing risk

So what is influenza?
Influenza (seasonal)
- Influenza is a common respiratory infection
- Circulates on a seasonal basis
- May affect 10 – 20% of the population each season
- Different strains always emerging

Symptoms - Sudden onset of:
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Headache
- Muscle aches, fatigue
- Short throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- weakness

Impact of Seasonal Influenza
- Between 4,000 to 8,000 persons die from influenza and complications each year in Canada (elder or medically compromised persons at higher risk)
- Strains health care resources at the peak of the season

Prevention
- Immunization
- Vaccine is 70—90% effective in preventing illness in healthy adults
- Handwashing
- When infected, staying away from others to avoid spreading


Pandemic Influenza
An epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries, and usually affecting a large number of people
- Caused by new influenza strain; more serious than seasonal influenza
- Entire population will be susceptible
- Previous pandemics in the 20th century (1918, 1957 and 1968)

A pandemic occurs when:
- A novel influenza virus emerges
- The virus transmits easily from person-to person
- The new virus causes serious illness and death
- The population has little/no immunity

Assumptions
- Circulating strain will arrive in Canada within 3 months of emerging elsewhere
- 1st peak in illness 2-4 months after arrival in Canada
- Outbreaks will occur in multiple locations
- Local pandemic waves will last 6-8 weeks
- There will be a lag of 3-9 months followed by a second (and perhaps subsequent) wave

Pandemic Influenza
- May be severe in all age groups
- Can occur at any time of the year
- Higher levels of mortality
- Patients may be sicker for longer period of time
- Vaccine may not be available for 4 months to 1 year
- Spreads rapidly throughout the world

Potential Impact of a Pandemic
The Federal and provincial governments are already developing their own pandemic preparedness plans. Each
jurisdiction has developed scenarios regarding the extent and impact of a flu pandemic.

The Ontario Government predicts that even at a low ratio of 15% of the Ontario population impacted by the virus,
- * 1,831,684 people will become ill,
- * 990,974 people will require care outside a hospital,
- * 22,276 people may require hospitalization and
- * 5,100 people may die.

The Canadian Pandemic Plan states a 15% impact on the population as bestcase scenario
- *2,394,443 will fall ill and require no formal care
- *2,086327 will require outpatient care
- *46,639 will require hospitalization
- *17,768 deaths

There is no capacity within the province, or nation to deal effectively with such a calamity.

Avian Flu

Assumptions
- Avian influenza viruses do not normally infect species other than birds and pigs.
- To date, chains of infection have occurred primarily from birds to humans via the consumption of infected birds. As of yet, human to human infection has not been the principle means of transmission.
- There are identified cases in humans in Asia, Europe and Africa

If the Avian Flu (H5N1) does mutate into a virus transmissible from human to human, contagion will most likely be spread by airborne
droplets (coughing, sneezing) and would be considered highly infectious.

Regardless of the risk of an “avian flu” pandemic, current thinking suggests that an influenza
flu pandemic remains probable, if notlikely.

There is no known vaccine.
While research continues in the development of a vaccine, it would take 4-5 months to
develop a vaccine specific to any influenza flu. A vaccine can only be developed when the virus emerges.

While the majority of people infected will recover, the challenge will be to care for those infected and affected
while also “keeping the province/nation running”.

It is understood that influenza disease patterns are such that there can be more than one “wave” of infection.
Therefore, the duration of such a pandemic could be 16-24 months. This will be a “more than once event” and
preparedness planning must take into account such an extended time line.

Work in process ….
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a phased system of preparedness which is being adopted as the framework or protocol for building response plans.
- We are already at Phase 3 Globally and Phase 2 Nationally

WHO Pandemic Phases

The Canadian and Provincial governments have developed pandemic preparedness plans.
(available on websites)

What are we doing?

Developing a plan of preparedness for our Diocese, creating a “framework”, which would allow for and anticipate the detailed decisions which would be required as the event unfolds.

The Tri-Diocesan Pandemic and Emergency Planning Task Force
- Using outside resources and considering our needs, the task force is putting together
a pandemic plan that covers:

Framework for Diocesan Plan
- Administration and Human Resources
- Education and Implementation
- Communication and Preparation
- Pastoral Response to Parishes and Community

Administration and Human Resources

- Parish and Diocesan offices; contact lists, data storage; salary continuation; essential workers
- Clergy; regional ministry; crossing diocesan lines; continued pastoral contact via email/phone if
quarantines imposed
- Community; communicate with health units; lending buildings; support to parishioners

Education and Implementation

- Prevention; proper hand-care; proper food handling; sanitization of buildings; consideration
of limiting contact during services
- Synod presentation on handwashing
- Synod display table

Communication and Preparation

- Communications; appoint a contact person; communications strategies (who will say what and when?)
- Preparation; working groups to promote awareness; mandatory flu shots; training for clergy
and lay leaders on disaster and pandemic preparedness/protocal implementation

Pastoral Response to Parishes and Community

- Daily prayer, loaning of prayer books; Bishop’s messages
- Visiting the sick?
- Management of fear and isolation
- Provision of food
- Caring for orphans or elderly
- Post pandemic; acknowledgement of grief and trauma
- Spiritual health of staff and volunteers

Initiatives on a Tri-Di Level

1. That each Diocese appoint a “pandemic preparedness coordinator / contact person”.
2. Encourage a willingness to share information as a way of reaching out to one another.
3. Sharing human resources as necessary
4. That each Diocese adopts ongoing educational programs regarding principles of basic public health
(hand washing, food preparation in church kitchens, cleaning of dishes, utensils and sacred vessels).

Resources
- hand washing
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/handwashing
- pdf re: hand washing techniques
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pubhealth/pdf/handwash_tech.pdf
- food safety publications
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/pub_menus/pub_foodsafe.html
5. That each Diocese develops a disaster plan which anticipates essential services, functions and alternate leadership / decision making processes.


What can parishes and deaneries be doing now?

- Determine a contact in each parish and Deanery with regards to Diocesan and Deanery communication
- Be in touch with the local health unit and establish contacts
- Begin to look at risk factors and how we can keep people safe (handwashing, food safety, the Peace, etc.)
- Begin to consider how we might minister to their community in the event of a pandemic or
disaster—what would our mission be?
- How can we work with other churches/agencies?
- Begin to prepare a communication fan-out list
- What kind of supplies should be in the parish?
- Look for succession planning (who will minister if the rector is ill? Who will provide
leadership if the wardens are ill?
- Consider impact if public gatherings are forbidden
- Consider economic impact
- Attend further workshops in the fall of 2006


credits
Thanks to The Tri-diocesan committee, Doug Graydon and documents from the Waterloo Public Health Unit and to various internet resources for information/work gathered here.

Thank you for coming!
Travel Safely.


Questions?

Contacts:
Melanie Snyders (HR Coordinator):
msnyders@huron.anglican.ca

Pat Pocock (Chair of task force):
bpocock@isp.ca