The county’s emergency services department is working with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health to slow or prevent swine flu if a pandemic hits later this yearEmergency services coordinator Linda Dickson told county council the county has had its emergency plan in place since 2004. The county will focus on three key areas. Those are supplies, communications, and human resources.
Councillors heard there will be a control group at Public Health, with the Ministry of Health ultimately in charge of all operations. The communications will come through the warden and municipal mayors who can take information to their municipalities.
“We’re looking at it now in terms of a pandemic,” Dickson said, adding that everyone will need a plan to cover for people at work who might be off sick.
She added there will be a mutual assistance committee of municipalities need to share resources.
Tracy Croft, of Public Health, told council that group’s role will include:
– surveillance and reporting to the Ministry of Health;
– investigating and responding to H1N1 outbreaks;
– immunizations;
– communications; and
– information.
She said the last two could include how to treat the sick at home.
“We are concerned about preventing the disease.”
Croft said she has been working with 84 different agencies on preparation for the disease.
She said the first steps of the operation were to anticipate the pandemic. Now, officials are in the preparedness and training phase, with a staff of 200 for a population of 250,000 people, and the final phase is clinics with flu shots.
She said the plan is to have the clinics ready by early November – and they could run as long as until next March.
Croft said there are four working groups for the Ontario pandemic plan:
– the county will provide staff;
– working with health partners;
– a fatality management group; and
– being prepared for a surge of natural deaths, which will include dealing with funeral service providers.
Officials are also working with its mental health partners in preparation for the pandemic. The goal is to limit the seriousness of illnesses, limit the number of deaths, provide care, maintain essential services, and communicate to the public what is going on.
Specific references to the H1N1 virus are on the Public Health web site, and there is information on the county web site as well.
Croft said the process has been a very collaborative effort, with many people involved.
“We got a lot done,” she said, but warned, “This flu season will be different. We need to be flexible.”
Councillor Walter Trachsel said there is a concern about the H1N1 vaccine not being available in time.
Croft replied that she can take his concerns to Public Health. But, she added, “There has been a lot of planning done considering there not being enough vaccine … Eventually, everyone who needs it will get it.”
She said those most vulnerable will be first considered. Those include pregnant women and those under age 19.
Councillor Lou Maieron said he has concerns about the availability of the vaccine.
Croft said officials considered taking the flu shots into schools, but added that does not work efficiently because parents often want to be present with their children when they receive it.
Maieron also asked if there are any “hot spots” in the county.
Croft said there are none, but, “We know the disease is in the community.”
On the county web site there is information about What To Do If You Get Pandemic Flu, under the emergency management section. It is available in English, French, Gujarati (India), Hindi, and Urdu.
