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Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan
Background: Influenza A viruses have the ability to infect many different animals including ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses, and seals. Influenza A viruses normally seen in one species can sometimes cross over and cause illness in another species. This creates the possibility that a new virus will develop, either through mutation or mixing of individual viruses, in turn creating the possibility for new viral strains that can be highly infective, readily transmissible and highly lethal in humans. When a pandemic virus strain emerges, 25% to 35% of the population could develop clinical disease, and a substantial fraction of these individuals could die.
Purpose: LCC has created this Pandemic Response Plan to help the campus prepare and respond to any pandemic influenza outbreak. The purpose of this plan is to describe specific action to be taken by the College in the event of an influenza outbreak. The plan should be implemented in accordance with the LCC Emergency Operations Plan and used to advise the community about the campus response to an influenza pandemic. The plan encompasses the various aspects of communication and education, preparedness, emergency response, and the recovery and maintenance efforts to take place in the event of an influenza pandemic.
LCC will use the World Health Organization Pandemic Response Phases:
TABLE 1 – World Health Organization Pandemic Response Phases
PHASES |
PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS |
Interpandemic period |
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Phase 1. No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. An influenza virus subtype that has caused human infection may be present in animals. If present in animals, the risk of human infection or disease is considered to be low. |
Strengthen influenza pandemic preparedness at the global, regional, national and subnational levels. |
Phase 2. No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. However, a circulating animal influenza virus subtype poses a substantial risk of human disease. |
Minimize the risk of transmission to humans; detect and report such transmission rapidly if it occurs. |
Pandemic alert period |
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Phase 3. Human infection(s) with a new subtype, but no human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances of spread to a close contact. |
Ensure rapid characterization of the new virus subtype and early detection, notification and response to additional cases. |
Phase 4. Small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human transmission but spread is highly localized, suggesting that the virus is not well adapted to humans. |
Contain the new virus within limited foci or delay spread to gain time to implement preparedness measures, including vaccine development. |
Phase 5. Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans, but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk). |
Maximize efforts to contain or delay spread, to possibly avert a pandemic, and to gain time to implement pandemic response measures. |
Pandemic period |
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Phase 6. Pandemic: increased and sustained transmission in general population. |
Minimize the impact of the pandemic. |
The world is presently in Phase 3: a new influenza virus subtype is causing disease in humans, but is not yet spreading efficiently and sustainably among humans.
In response to the WHO Pandemic Response Alert Phases, LCC will use the following alert matrix for our Pandemic Response Plan (see Table 2).
TABLE 2 –Lane Pandemic Influenza Alert Matrix
What type of transmission is confirmed? |
Where are the cases? |
Are there cases at LCC? |
Alert Level |
None or sporadic cases only
WHO Phase 3 |
Anywhere in the world |
No |
Preparation |
Person-to-person transmission |
Anywhere outside North America |
No |
1 |
Person-to-person transmission |
Anywhere in North America |
No |
2 |
Person-to-person transmission |
In Lane County |
Yes |
3 |
Specific organizational responsibilities for primary and support services are outlined in Table 3 – ERT Pandemic Response Matrix.
TABLE 3 – ERT and Lane Pandemic Response Matrix
ERT Function |
Preparation |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Director Health Clinic |
Monitor national, local and world situation.
Communicate with ERT and emergency director as indicated
Review emergency response plan
Establish who will handle duties and back-up. Establish ability to work from home |
All activities in Preparation level
Communicate with Emergency Director on current world status monthly
Establish medical screening and care guide lines for possible related infections in Health Clinic
Identify two providers to be fit tested and trained on N-95 respirators. |
Alert Emergency Director of need to convene ERT for planning.
Communicate to campus facts about possible pandemic, notify campus of reliable web reference
Coordinate with Health Dept on any required restrictions to campus activities and prevention activities |
Coordinate with Health Dept on probable required closure of campus |
Emergency Director |
Review emergency plan
Encourage college community to follow US government guidelines on foreign travel.
Establish who will handle duties and back-up. Establish ability to work from home |
Work with Health Clinic Director in monitoring situation |
Convene ERT/ET to develop procedures for staff and student in the event of a closure.
Establish criteria for closing campus operations prior to a mandatory Closure by HD.
Include planning for all campuses |
Lead ERT in following previously developed procedures.
Lead ERT in complying with any mandated restrictions on campus activities. |
ET
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Monitor situation
Establish who will handle duties and back-up. Establish ability to work from home |
Develop procedures for suspension of classes due to Pandemic Influenza outbreak.
Develop procedures for staff working from home, use of leave and compensation during a closure due to a pandemic.
Develop communication protocols around possible closure and rumors related to a possible pandemic |
Review procedures
Consider restrictions on vendors, conferences and other group activities
Meet weekly to review situation and preparedness level. |
Implement procedures
Follow mandated HD directives regarding group activities, athletic events, campus closure, etc. |
PIO |
Establish who will handle duties and back-up. Establish ability to work from home |
Review normal PIO communication procedures |
Communicate with campus all related Public Health messages. Write, record and distribute pandemic related communications
Communicate to campus and media open/closure status of campus |
Same as level 2 |
Public Safety |
Establish who will handle duties and back-up. |
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Implement any campus/activity closures. |
Secure campus in the event of closure. |
Director HR |
Identify key staff that will interface with staff in the event of a sustained campus closure. Consider methods to work from home |
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Develop and distribute procedures for staff in the event of a campus closure regarding leave usage, compensation, and working from home |
Implement policies |
Vice President of Instruction |
Identify key staff that will interface with students in the event of a sustained campus closure. Provide methods to work from home |
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Develop and distribute procedures for students regarding class attendance, class completion, and credit in the event of a sustained closure |
Implement policies in the event of a sustained closure |
AVP Technology |
Identify staff who will maintain IT resources in the event of a sustained closure. Provide methods to work from home |
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Implement plan in the event of a sustained closure |
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Director Facilities |
Identify staff who will maintain essential campus functions in the event of a sustained closure |
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Implement plan if campus closed for a sustained period |
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