Epidemiology & Disease Prevention - Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health

Disease Prevention

Pandemic Flu: Frequently Asked Questions FAQ Key

Preparedness, Planning & Response

What other strategies will help protect Americans?
In the event of a pandemic, certain public health measures may be important to help contain or limit the spread of infection as effectively as possible. The following actions could include:

treating sick and exposed people with antivirals;
isolating sick people in hospitals, homes, or other facilities;
identifying and quarantining exposed people;
closing schools and workplaces as needed;
canceling public events; and restricting travel.

In addition, people should protect themselves by:
washing hands frequently with soap and water;
staying away from people who are sick; and
staying home if sick.

What precautions can be taken to reduce the risk from infection from wild birds in the United States?
At present, there are no documented cases of human H5N1 infection caused by contact with live wild birds. As a general rule, however, the public should observe wildlife, including wild birds, from a distance. This protects you from possible exposure to pathogens and minimizes disturbance to the animal.

Avoid touching wildlife. If there is contact with wildlife do not rub eyes, eat, drink, or smoke before washing hands with soap and water.
Do not pick up diseased or dead wildlife.
Contact your state, tribal, or federal natural resource agency if sick or dead animals are found.
If you must dispose of a dead bird, pick it up with an inverted bag or disposable glove; place the bird in another bag and dispose of it in the trash. Trash receptacles should be secured so that children pets and animals do not have access to them.
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.

What is the Government doing now to prepare for a pandemic flu outbreak?
Federal, State, and local health agencies are making plans to prepare for, respond to, and contain an outbreak of pandemic flu. Activities to prepare for a pandemic flu include:

supporting Federal, State, and local health agencies' efforts to prepare for and respond to a pandemic flu outbreak;
working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other nations to help detect and contain outbreaks;
developing a national stockpile of antiviral drugs to help treat and control the spread of disease;
supporting the manufacture and testing of possible vaccines, including finding more reliable and quicker ways to make large quantities of vaccines; and
working with other Federal agencies to prepare and to encourage communities, businesses, and organizations to plan for a pandemic influenza outbreak.

Will you evacuate U.S. citizens in a foreign country the event of a pandemic?
Current medical thinking suggests that a “stay in place” response to a pandemic may be appropriate in certain countries or regions. In this scenario, people would be advised to exercise “social distancing” and avoid any form of public gathering where transmission of the disease could occur. Crowding associated with travel is a concern for human-to-human transmission of viral infections due to proximity of travelers. People who are not comfortable with this scenario should consider these factors when making their plans.

Whether the U.S. Government evacuates anyone will depend on a variety of factors specific to individual countries, including supplies of food and water, security, and medical infrastructure. Each U.S. Embassy has been asked to develop a contingency plan in the event of a pandemic, and to identify events that might prompt them to send employees and/or their dependents out of the country, assuming such travel is possible. Should the decision be made to send Embassy employees and/or their dependents out of a country, we will communicate this to the private American community so that people can plan accordingly. As in any other crisis, we will assess the availability of commercial transportation, the ability of people to travel to the United States or a third country, and other related factors in deciding on appropriate actions to assist Americans.

Will a surgical mask protect me from becoming infected with the avian influenza virus?
Surgical masks are recommended for health care workers who are subjected to repeated exposure to multiple patients. For health care workers performing certain medical procedures on infected patients, N95 respirators are recommended. Surgical masks are also recommended for patients who are infected to help reduce the potential spread of virus when these people cough or sneeze. HHS will continue to review and update as needed its public health guidance on the use of masks and respirators by healthcare workers and by the general public.

Will the government quarantine people in a pandemic?
The purpose of quarantine is to separate people who have been potentially exposed to a contagious disease and may be infected but are not yet ill to stop the spread of that disease. The last large-scale quarantine measures that were imposed in this country were used in the early 20th century to contain outbreaks of plague, yellow fever, and smallpox.

Today, quarantine typically refers to confining potentially infected persons to their homes or community-based facilities, usually on a voluntary basis. Quarantine can be used for a defined group of people who may have been exposed at a public gathering, or who may have been exposed while traveling, particularly overseas. In extreme cases, quarantine could apply to an entire geographic area, in which case a community may be closed off by sealing its borders or by a barricade, known as a "cordon sanitaire".

In the case of pandemic influenza, quarantine may be one of the public health tools employed in the early days of an emerging pandemic if efforts are undertaken to contain the outbreak before it spreads too widely. Once a pandemic has begun to spread, quarantine is not likely to be effective in controlling the spread, and instead efforts may turn to "social distancing.” Social distancing includes measures to increase distance between individuals, such as staying home when ill unless seeking medical care, avoiding large gatherings, telecommuting, and school closures.