Statewide Pandemic Influenza Exercise Set for Nov. 1-2

Photo courtesy: State of Florida

(PORTLAND) - This Nov. 1st and 2nd, public health officials and hospitals across Oregon will participate in a statewide exercise to test many state and local systems and plans for responding to influenza pandemic.

"Oregon is preparing," said Susan Allan, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., Public Health Division director in the Oregon Department of Human Services. "We do not know whether an influenza pandemic will occur in this generation. But new diseases are always arising, and we can be certain that someday there will be some kind of serious disease outbreak. We are testing systems that will help us be ready for a pandemic or any other widespread disease outbreak."

Historically, pandemic influenza has occurred every few generations with introduction of a new strain of flu viruses to which humans have no immunity. Once such a virus develops, it can spread rapidly, overwhelming public health and health care systems and causing a global emergency.

At a statewide summit in March, the DHS Public Health Division presented a plan for how Oregon would respond to a pandemic. This exercise will test critical elements of plans developed by local health departments and most hospitals.

The exercise scenario simulates an early stage of a pandemic: Twenty percent of the state's residents are sick, work attendance is down, school absenteeism is rising, hospitals are strained and health officials anticipate that up to 2,500 deaths will occur in Oregon.

An emergency of that scale would require broad cooperation, which is why this exercise will test across multiple agencies, jurisdictions and organizations, Allan said.

Last November, public health conducted a statewide exercise to practice ordering, receiving and distributing vaccines from the Strategic National Stockpile, a federal resource that delivers large amounts of certain medical supplies to a state during an emergency. This year's exercise tests many additional components of state and community response to a pandemic or other public health emergency.

Participants will practice:

• Communicating clear messages -- within state and county public health agencies and with health care organizations, emergency management and the public.
• Staffing and managing command and control operations during periods of low-staff availability.
• Ordering from the Strategic National Stockpile.
• Prioritizing and allocating vaccine during a shortage.

Building on lessons from Hurricane Katrina and other emergencies, the exercise will test the behavioral health plan and outreach and communication to four special populations -- the elderly, healthy children age birth to 8 years, medically fragile children age birth to 5 and people with limited English proficiency, according to Allan, who says conducting tests is an important part of emergency preparedness.

Each exercise includes formal evaluators who observe the exercise, provide a full assessment and identify ways to improve plans and training. This reflects state and local public health officials' commitment to protect people in every Oregon community from the threats of widespread disease outbreaks.

Silverton
Nov. 1st: St. Edwards Church, 211 W. Center Street in Silverton. From 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM Silverton Hospital will conduct a mass vaccination clinic, giving free flu shots to healthcare personnel, fire, policy, EMS and their families. Call Jamie Baxter, Silverton Hospital at 503-873-1511 for details.

Nov. 2nd: St. Edwards Church, 211 W. Center Street in Silverton. From 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Silverton Hospital will conduct a mass vaccination clinic, giving free flu shots to anyone in the community who wants one. Call Jamie Baxter at Silverton Hospital, 503-873-1511 for details.

Cannon Beach
Nov. 2nd: Fire Station, 188 E. Sunset Blvd., Cannon Beach. At 9:00 AM an emergency vaccination site will be set up and volunteer health providers will be credentialed onsite to give flu shots to local first responders. Call Andrea Kennet at 503-338-3759 for details.

Hillsboro
Oct. 30th: Intel Corporation, Jones Farm Campus, 2111 N.E. 25th Ave., Hillsboro. Between 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Intel and Washington County health officials will conduct a mass employee vaccination exercise. Call Bill MacKenzie at 503-264-1330 for details.

Portland
Nov. 2nd: Portland Adventist Hospital, 10123 SE Market St., Portland. At 10:00 AM the hospital will conduct a patient triage scenario; complete details will be made available one day in advance, on Nov. 1st. Call Judy Leach at 503-251-6162 for details.

Nov. 2nd: Legacy Emanuel Hospital, 2801 N. Gantenbein, Portland. Between 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM reporters may view and film three activities: mock patients arriving for treatment, use of the hospital's medical triage trailer and the emergency operations center. Call Lise Harwin, 503-415-5725 for details.