Pandemic Influenza Sample Clauses

Pandemic Influenza. Within the UK National Risk Register, Pandemic Influenza (Flu) is regarded as the most significant risk to the UK in light of its impact, however until the pandemic emerges its effect cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. Within the West Midlands Conurbation Risk Register it has been given an overall risk rating ‘Very High’. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus, which people have no immunity to, emerges and starts spreading as easily as normal influenza. Unlike seasonal flu, Pandemic Flu can affect anyone and therefore has the potential to affect a large proportion of the population over a short period of time. Whilst influenza pandemics have been relatively infrequent over the past century, a new pandemic could emerge at any time. The H1N1 flu pandemic which emerged in 2009 turned out to be a relatively mild illness for most of those affected. However, 457 people are known to have died in England and Wales, including a disproportionate number in children and pregnant women. Whilst the 2009 influenza pandemic proved much milder, the next pandemic may not be so. The WHO estimates that the next pandemic could lead to between 2 million to 7.4 million deaths globally. National Planning Assumptions estimate that an Influenza pandemic is likely to affect up to roughly half the population who may become symptomatic and it is estimated that 30% of these may require assessment and treatment. Between 1% and 4% of symptomatic patients will require hospital care, depending on how severe the illness caused by the virus is. It is difficult to predict the most vulnerable groups who would be most affected by a pandemic as this will directly depend on the strain of the pathogen involved and its expected target population. It is fair to assume all age groups will be susceptible. Especially susceptible to more severe illness will be immuno-compromised individuals, the elderly, pregnant women and those with underlying respiratory, cardiac, renal and hepatic diseases and deaths may occur in all age groups. It also is impossible to give precise figures of the number of deaths that can be expected however, on a precautionary basis, local planners should prepare to cope locally with between 210,000 – 315,000 additional deaths across the UK (possibly up to 18,000 across West Midlands) over a 15 week period. In a less widespread and lower impact influenza pandemic, the number of additional deaths would be lower. Service delivery will be affected by la...
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Related to Pandemic Influenza

  • Influenza Vaccine Upon recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health, all employees shall be required, on an annual basis to be vaccinated and or to take antiviral medication for influenza. If the costs of such medication are not covered by some other sources, the Employer will pay the cost for such medication. If the employee fails to take the required medication, she may be placed on an unpaid leave of absence during any influenza outbreak in the home until such time as the employee has been cleared by the public health or the Employer to return to the work environment. The only exception to this would be employees for whom taking the medication will result in the employee being physically ill to the extent that she cannot attend work. Upon written direction from the employee’s physician of such medical condition in consultation with the Employer’s physician, (if requested), the employee will be permitted to access their sick bank, if any, during any outbreak period. If there is a dispute between the physicians, the employee will be placed on unpaid leave. If the employee gets sick as a reaction to the drug and applies for WSIB the Employer will not oppose the application. If an employee is pregnant and her physician believes the pregnancy could be in jeopardy as a result of the influenza inoculation and/or the antiviral medication she shall be eligible for sick leave in circumstances where she is not allowed to attend at work as a result of an outbreak. This clause shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code.

  • Pandemic An epidemic that spreads over a wide area, crossing borders and defined as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and/or by the competent local authorities of the country where the loss occurred. Isolation of the person, in the event of suspected illness or proven illness, decided by a competent local authority, in order to avoid a risk of spreading said illness in the context of an epidemic or pandemic.

  • Hepatitis B Vaccine Where the Hospital identifies high risk areas where employees are exposed to Hepatitis B, the Hospital will provide, at no cost to the employees, a Hepatitis B vaccine.

  • Infectious Diseases The Employer and the Union desire to arrest the spread of infectious diseases in the nursing home. To achieve this objective, the Joint Health and Safety Committee may review and offer input into infection control programs and protocols including surveillance, outbreak control, isolation, precautions, worker education and training, and personal protective equipment. The Employer will provide training and ongoing education in communicable disease recognition, use of personal protective equipment, decontamination of equipment, and disposal of hazardous waste.

  • Infectious Disease The Employer shall provide Bargaining Unit Employees with information about residents' infectious diseases provided that such information does not compromise HIPAA or otherwise infringe upon residents' rights to confidentiality.