Planning Materials
Ecolab Customers, please contact your Ecolab representative to request helpful planning materials such as:
- Pandemic Preparedness Suggestions for your operation by pandemic phase
- Control Procedures
- Product Suggestions*
If you are not currently an Ecolab customer, you may contact Customer Service.
*Currently no Ecolab EPA registered or DIN registered products are registered for use against Avian flu or H5N1.
Background
Pandemic influenza is a virulent strain of human flu that causes a global outbreak of serious illness, resulting from the emergence of a new virus strain to which the overall population possesses no immunity. Because of the lack of natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. Influenza pandemics are rare but recurring events and have previously occurred in 1918, 1957 and 1968. Past influenza pandemics have been caused by influenza A viruses.
There is concern that the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 may mutate to a form that is readily transmitted from human to human. It is unknown if this or another influenza strain will give rise to the next flu pandemic. Normally, viruses infect one species or group of animals and do not efficiently transfer to other animals. However, virus mutation can alter this. The two most likely routes that could result in the transfer between unrelated animals are:
- The virus goes through several point mutations and acquires the ability to infect humans AND transfer efficiently from human to human. This is thought to be what happened in 1918.
- A mammalian host (human or pig) becomes infected with both a common human flu strain and a virulent avian flu strain. The two viruses combine in the pig to form a new virus with the virulence of the bird strain and the ability to pass from human to human. This occurred in 1957 and 1968. This re-assortment could also occur in humans, which is why it is very important that sick individuals avoid contact with birds.
The World Health Organization (WHO) closely monitors the emergence of new strains, such as avian influenza H5N1, and classifies the global stage of pandemic alert.
These are outlined below, with the current phase highlighted.
| WHO Phase of Alert in the Global Influenza Preparedness Plan |
Inter-pandemic phase
New virus in animals,
no human cases |
Low risk of human cases | 1 |
| Higher risk of human cases | 2 |
Pandemic alert
New virus causes
human cases |
No or very limited human-to-human transmission | 3 |
| Evidence of increased human-to-human transmission | 4 |
| Evidence of significant human-to-human transmission | 5 |
| Pandemic alert |
Efficient and sustained human-to-human transmission | 6 |
A pandemic can cause a large number of illnesses and deaths, drastic disruption of critical services, and severe economic losses. Once a strain emerges, there may be little time between the onset of a pandemic and its spread around the globe, with outbreaks occurring simultaneously in many areas. The impact could last for weeks to months. National public health officials work closely with WHO to develop plans and have Web sites specific to their public needs (see references).
References
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