Flu Pandemic Measures - Wisconsin DPI

This Web page provides resources to assist schools and individuals in their efforts to plan for a possible pandemic influenza outbreak.

  Here are some helpful websites for developing, updating, or practicing your pandemic flu plan. These websites provide sample plans, posters, parent letters and tip sheets, media messages, as well as checklists, toolkits, table top exercises, and related links.

Pandemic Flu School Action Kit, May 2006, Contra Costa County, California.
Pandemic Flu Planning for Schools Webcast, May 2008
Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools in New York State, January 2007.
School Guidance During an Influenza Pandemic, December 2006.
Pandemic Influenza Toolkit for Ohio Schools, January 2007.
Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Exercise: K-12 School Closure as a Disease Containment Measure.
California Division of Public Health and the California Public Schools Pandemic Preparedness.

Wisconsin's comprehensive pandemic flu website.

Pandemic flu is a rare, but recurring event that is much more virulent and widespread than the usual seasonal flu. It can occur during any time of the year, not just when seasonal flu is expected. No one can predict when the next pandemic flu outbreak will occur, but many public health officials worldwide concur that it is a matter of "when" and not "if". A pandemic influenza is an outbreak of a new flu virus to which people have no immunity and for which there is no vaccine, occurring on multiple continents at the same time.

When a pandemic hits the United States, as many as four in 10 school-age children would become sick, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Many teachers, students, and staff members would also be ill or need to care for ill family members and not be able to report to work. The effects on our schools could be staggering. In some cases, schools may be required to close for an extended period of time.

Flu Terms Defined

Seasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available.

Avian (or bird) flu is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. The H5N1 variant is deadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted from birds to humans. There is no human immunity and no vaccine is available. To date, there has been no human-to-human transmission of bird flu.

Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. Currently, there is no pandemic flu.

It's important to get information from trusted, reputable medical sources. Be sure to look for information and guidance from local and state health officials.

General Information

• What is pandemic flu?
• Pandemic flu questions and answers
• The National Strategy
• CDC Pandemic Flu Web site
• Questions and Answers About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus

Information for Schools

• Pandemic Flu School Action Kit, May 2006, Contra Costa County, California.
• Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools in New York State, January 2007.
• School Guidance During an Influenza Pandemic, December 2006.
• Pandemic Influenza Toolkit for Ohio Schools, January 2007.
• Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Exercise: K-12 School Closure as a Disease Containment Measure.
• California Division of Public Health and the California Public Schools Pandemic Preparedness.
• US Department of Education newsletter on pandemic flu preparedness, November 2007
• Closing the Schools: Legal Issues for School Boards
• Pandemic Flu Preparedness for Schools Webcast, May 2007
• Letter from State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster and DHFS Secretary Kevin Hayden, May 2007
• Pandemic Influenza Community Mitigation Interim Planning Guide for Elementary and Secondary Schools
• Pandemic Influenza - All Hazards Planning for Schools - Minnesota Department of Education
• Cover your cough CDC strategies for reducing transmission through coughing. Flyers and posters.
• Fast Flu facts Information on the flu from The Center for Health/Health Care in Schools.
• Germstopper materials CDC posters and flyers schools can use to reduce the transmission of germs.
• Handwashing in emergency circumstances CDC information on how to cleanse your hands when water is not available.
• Identifying the flu A CDC poster for parents
• Stopping the spread of germs at school Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web site suggestions on how schools can reduce the spread of germs.
• Emergency Planning Office for Safe and Drug-Free Schools U. S. Department of Education Web site suggestions on how schools can prepare for crises including pandemic flu.
• U.S. Department of Education brochure on crisis planning

Resources on Communicable Diseases

• Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services Fact Sheets
  on communicable diseases
• Preventing Diseases Associated with Animals in Public Settings

State Resources

• General information on bird flu from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, with links to many other state resources
• Wisconsin Emergency Preparedness Plan
• Wisconsin pandemic flu plan

Additional Federal Resources

• Infection Control Procedures from HHS The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Pandemic Influenza Plan has sections on various infection control procedures, including standards for school health clinics and isolation rooms, use of masks, and transportation of sick people.
• Handwashing Centers for Disease Control (CDC) explanation of the how and why of handwashing.
• Germstopper resources CDC page with links to resources on infection control.
• Preventing the flu CDC information on health habits and antiviral medications that can help protect against the flu.

For questions about this information, contact Rachel Gallagher (608) 266-8857

Last updated on 6/6/2008 11:05:03 AM