The word pandemic has become a common topic of discussion among the government, healthcare professionals, the media, and lay people who are trying to get a grasp on exactly what this means, the magnitude of the problem, and the probability of this occurring in the near future. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2005), a pandemic is defined as a "global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears or 'emerges' in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide."
Pandemics are not new, and their occurrence is rare; however, they are often catastrophic in scope. In 1918, the Spanish flu killed more than 50 million people throughout the world. Since then, two additional pandemics have been seen: the Asian flu in 1957 responsible for approximately 70,000 deaths in the United States and the Hong flu in 1968, which caused approximately 34,000 deaths in the United States.
Currently, the discussion centers on the possibility of the Avian influenza that has been seen in several countries becoming a pandemic. At this time, the transmission is from bird to human, and deaths related to this flu have been seen. The real concern evolves however, around the possibility of this flu mutating into the type that is easily transferable from human to human.
Preparing for such an outbreak, whether it be the Avian flu or one that we are not even aware of today, is one that public health professionals worldwide have at the forefront of their minds. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently revised WHO Global influenza preparedness plan: The role of WHO and recommendations for national measures before and during pandemics. This document redefines the different phases of a pandemic and what should be done by governments before and during a pandemic.
The U.S. government has offered its plan for protecting the American people from a pandemic, and that plan is being widely discussed today. Improved vaccine development, as well as healthcare infrastructure changes, will be necessary to have an effective pandemic preparedness plan. This is no simple task and will cost the U.S. government billions of dollars. The urgency of developing this plan cannot be underscored enough.
Certainly, the recent events related to the hurricanes in the Gulf States have demonstrated that national disaster preparedness must be improved. Based on that experience and the concerns of a global pandemic, the time is right to develop a preparedness plan that will work in many different scenarios.
The one thing that is for sure with all of the discussion about pandemics, nurses will be key healthcare provides who will help protect our country and our world. Keeping informed on the developments of the preparedness plan and taking the necessary actions to protect yourself first so that you will be able to care for others is an important aspect we need to keep in mind. According to Raush (2005), less than 40% of all healthcare workers participate in voluntary influenza inoculation.
It is time to evaluate your personal preparedness plan and how you will be protected. This recommendation is not only for community health nurses and typical emergency respondents but rather for all nurses who need to protect themselves so you may be able to care for others. Become familiar with the preparedness plan in your institution, community, and state. The time to learn about this and become prepared is now!!
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