Pandemic influenza: What infection control professionals should know

Abstract

During the last century, 3 influenza A pandemics have occurred, and pandemic influenza will inevitably occur in the future. Although the timing and severity of the next pandemic cannot be predicted, the probability that a pandemic will occur has increased based on the current outbreaks of A(H5N1) in Asia, Europe, and Africa. Because of these widespread outbreaks, the World Health Organization declared a phase 3 pandemic alert in the fall of 2005. Early detection is essential to prevent the spread of avian influenza. Planning now can be achieved by integrating interventions to ensure a prompt and effective response to a pandemic. This article provides an overview of the current status of A(H5N1) influenza worldwide and recommendations for the prevention and control of avian influenza should it emerge in humans in the United States.

A comparison of infection control program resources, activities, and antibiotic resistant organism rates in Canadian acute care hospitals in 1999 and 2005: Pre- and post-severe acute respiratory syndrome

“…[18][19][20] Taking into account hypervirulent C difficile strains, the predicted influenza pandemic, and increasing rates of MRSA and VRE, there continues to be great need for ongoing investment in infection control programs. [3][4][5]21 If Canada is to achieve widespread control of infections in acute care hospitals, increased investments in infection control human resources are required in the form of more infection control professionals, their training, and certification with CBIC. Infection control programs also require physicians trained in infection control, surveillance tools, and support staff to mount effective control programs and to report on nosocomial infection rates.…”

“…2 Since 1999, the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the worldwide increasing rates of antibiotic-resistant organisms (AROs), and the specter of pandemic influenza continue to underscore the critical need for effective infection control programs. [3][4][5] We examined the extent to which infection control program resources and activities improved from 1999 to 2005 in Canadian acute care hospitals and whether ARO rates have changed during the same time frame.…”

Predicting the anticipated emotional and behavioral responses to an avian flu outbreak

“…Almost inevitably, another pandemic will occur in the near future. 1 The most likely candidate appears to be a variant of the avian H5N1 strain, which has already met 2 of 3 conditions for a pandemic: it is a virus to which humans have little or no immunity and it can jump between species. 2 The only remaining condition is that it can mutate to a form that is easily transmissible between humans.…”

H5N1 influenza outbreak during March 2006 in Jordan

“…Elderly people had the highest mortality but after 10 years the causative virus disappeared from human population. The third pandemic was the Hong Kong flu which occurred during 1968-1969 and caused by Influenza A H3N2 first detected in early 1968 in Hong Kong, spread to the USA later in that year, with a death toll of ~34,000 people [1,3]. Only H1N1 may be derived from an avian source [3], while the other two represent reassortants between both avian and human strains.…”

“…The first was the Spanish flu, in 1918-1919 identified as Influenza A H1N1 and lead to 20 -40 million deaths worldwide in 6 months affecting young healthy adults between 20 -40 years of age [1][2][3]. The second was the Asian flu, in [1957][1958] caused by Influenza A H2N2, identified in China in February, 1957 reaching the USA by June 1957 causing approximately 70 thousand deaths there.…”