Posted on 04/28/2009 8:24:00 AM PDT by Pete
This document was developed by the CDC in February of 2007 to outline what non-pharmaceutical measures the government would take at the various levels of a pandemic outbreak. Non-pharmaceutical measures include things like quarantine and school and business closures. The term used for these measures is "Social Distancing". Here is how the purpose of this paper is defined.
This document provides interim planning guidance for State, territorial, tribal, and local communities that focuses on several measures other than vaccination and drug treatment that might be useful during an influenza pandemic to reduce its harm. Communities, individuals and families, employers, schools, and other organizations will be asked to plan for the use of these interventions to help limit the spread of a pandemic, prevent disease and death, lessen the impact on the economy, and keep society functioning. This interim guidance introduces a Pandemic Severity Index to characterize the severity of a pandemic, provides planning recommendations for specific interventions that communities may use for a given level of pandemic severity, and suggests when these measures should be started and how long they should be used. The interim guidance will be updated when significant new information about the usefulness and feasibility of these approaches emerges.
Understanding the pandemic index with subsequent social distancing measures to be taken when a particular index value is met will allow you to know what is and is not coming as the swine flu pandemic plays out. We are currently in phase 4. Page 36 of this report has a chart that shows recommended social distancing measures that should be implemented in the various phases. Based on this chart, we should expect additional school closures, cancelation of public events, and modification of workplace schedules. If the government follows the plan, these will likely be implemented in coming days. Some have already been implemented. For example, school closures have occurred. Almost all have already been implemented in Mexico.
Again, we are at phase 4. Page 32 of this report estimates deaths in US between 900,000 and 1.8 million for a phase 4 event. Other than the 1918 flu pandemic, which was a phase 5, we have not had an event above a phase 2 in the 20th or 21st centuries.
Here is a link to the conference call page with number and pass code. Anyone can listen in, apparently. They are about to talk about quarantine and other social distancing laws. Right now, talking about emergency declarations.
most likely the plane ride over. You are breathing everyone on that planes air.
The use of physical restrictions on travel was designed for (and would be appropriate for) smallpox.
It's not appropriate for sniffles.
The call I mentioned above is actually by FEMA legal councel. They are going through a powerpoint deck. Slide 53 is titled “Quarantine and Isolation Law: The Basics”. Again, anyone can call and listen in.
UH....NO, it was NOT an upper respiratory illness....
Federal Powers: Quarantine and Isolation
The Secretary of HHS (through CDC) can: detain, medically examine, or conditionally release persons suspected of carrying certain communicable diseases
Authority applies only if communicable disease has been designated in a Presidential Executive Order SARS added 2003 Avian influenza added 2005
State and Local Jurisdictional Issues Regarding Protection of People
Remember: Police powers, including public health authority, are reserved to states under the U.S. Constitutions 10th Amendment
But: federal and international jurisdictional issues may arise in a given case
ok then it was bad water/food I take it.
Did I just hear Sheppard Smith say the incubation period was 6-7 days? I’ve been hearing 1-2 all along.
That would not be good.
LOL
page 31 table 2 shows we are on phase 2 or 3. Consider would indicate some schools should be closed which that is taking place. If Mexico is using a similar plane they are on phase 4.
The US is on phase 2 or 3.
In the US we are on planning phase 4 but we are on pandemic category 2. Which in the US we are expected to lose between 90,000 and 450,000 people at this category.
I think you are right. It is somewhat confusing. I am still going through. It looks like things don’t really get crazy until the WHO goes to phase 6. My understanding is that they may go to phase 5 as early as tomorrow.
it is between 2 and 7 days that might depend on the strain of virus. I am not real clear on this but there are three strains of viruses in the Mexican Flu. H1h1 (swine flu), H2H2(bird flu) and common flu.
Thanks for all your information from the call. I wish I could have logged on but work comes first while I still have it!
ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.