MEMORANDUM To: CFA All FROM: Chief Executive Officer DATE: 29 April 2009 SUBJECT: CFA PANDEMIC PLAN Below is the alert message released by World Health Organization (WHO) dated 27 April 2009 in relation to swine influenza and possible pandemic. CFA has assessed the message and reviewed our Pandemic Plan which was developed three years ago and which has been updated each year to ensure it is current and valid. Current situation: "WHO International, 0700hrs 28” April 2009. The Emergency Committee, established in compliance with the International Health Regulations (2005), held its second meeting on 27 April 2009. The Committee considered available data on confirmed outbreaks of AJH1N1 swine influenza in the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada. The Committee also considered reports of possible spread to additional countries. On the advice of the Committee, the WHO Director-General decided on the following. The Director-General has raised the level of influenza pandemic alert from the current phase 3 to phase 4 of a 6 phase Worldwide alert system, The change to a higher phase of pandemic alert indicates thal the likelihood of a pandemic has increased, but not that a pandemic is inevitable. As further information becomes available, WHO may decide to either revert to phase 3 or raise the level of alert to another phase. This decision was based primarily on epidemiological data demonstrating human-to-human transmission and the ability of the virus to cause community-level outbreaks. Given the widespread presence of the virus, the Director-General considered that containment of the outbreak is not feasible. The current focus should be on mitigation measures.” While there has been a spread of the virus in Mexico and a number of deaths have been reported, in cases from other countries it has been reported that even though the results from tests are positive there have been no serious cases or deaths elsewhere. On information currently available, it appears that the virus spreading throughout other countries is not as virulent as in the source country at present. Anti-viral medication currently held by Department of Health and Ageing has shown posi results in treating the virus.CFA Pandemic Plan: The plan has been reviewed today in line with the current situation report from WHO. The plan is valid for this occurrence and will be elevated in line with the World Alert Level released this morning, Advice has been sourced from the CFA Medical Officer with regard to the CFA Pandemic Plan and has been confirmed as current and valid. The CFA Medical Officer will continue to advise on further steps to be taken to ensure safe implementation of the CFA plan. Processes approved by CFA Directors on 28 April 2009: * Activation of Pandemic Planning Unit, to include CFA Medical Officer in first instance; = Re-release of pandemic information package to all staff and volunteers; * Directorates to identify key roles in line with Response/Business Continuity Pian; + Identify staff returning from overseas travel if they have any symptoms or feel unwell; + Identify volunteer members returning from overseas travel if they have any symptoms or feel unwell; * Any CFA member feeling ill should not attend a work location/Brigade until cleared by their doctor; + Prepare a list of quantities of P2 masks required at Region Level, * OHS Project Officers to be briefed to assist State Pandemic Planning Unit at Area level if the next Alert Level is implemented; + Further steps will be announced if the World Alert Level is increased above current status. Advice from Centre of Disease Control (CDC USA) and Department of Health and ‘Ageing (DOHA Aus) There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy. + Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. + Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. * Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. + Pass this information on to all staff and members and family members Try to avoid close contact with sick people. + Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. + Ifyou get sick, CDC/DoHA recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. If the human-to-human transfer of the virus should occur in Australia, personal hygiene will be the key focus for the prevention of the spread of the virus, along with P2 masks when in close contact with people outside the organisation. This information is enclosed in the pandemic information package which will be available on Brigades on Line, Intranet, ‘Fire Flyer’ and ESV Healthwatch web sites (http://esvhealthwatch. vic. gov.au). As alerts are escalated, further information will be forwarded to all members and the allocation of masks for operational use and other standard infection control instructions will be implemepjéd if required. imation can be accessed through Peter Langridge 03 9262 8656.