Appendix 6: Influenza Pandemic Preparedness & Response Plan
Purpose
The University of Chicago has, in part, created this PIPBRP to help the campus prepare and respond to an outbreak, or the deliberate release of pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi or toxins or agents produced by such organisms) into the community; therefore, the purpose of the PIPBRP is to describe specific actions to be taken by the University. The PIPBRP should be implemented in accordance with the University Emergency Management Plan, and used to advise the community about the campus response to an outbreak. The PIPBRP encompasses the various aspects of communication and education, preparedness, and emergency response, as well as the recovery and maintenance efforts to take place in the event of an outbreak.
The development of this document is based on the following assumptions:
- In the event of an incident, the State of Illinois Department of Health and Human Services (IDPH) and the City of Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) will have minimal resources available for on-site assistance to the University. Therefore, municipal and state authorities will be responsible for community-specific response plans.
- The federal government has limited resources allocated for State of Illinois and local plan implementation. Therefore the state will provide supplementary resources in the event of an incident, which may include the redirection of personnel and monetary resources from other programs.
- The federal government has assumed the responsibility for developing materials and guidelines, including basic communication materials for the general public on infectious agents, vaccine, anti-viral agents, and other relevant topics in various languages; information and guidelines for health care providers; and training modules. This information is available at http://www.pandemicflu.gov.
- A novel pandemic strain of influenza will likely emerge in a country other than the United States, but could emerge first in the United States.
- It is likely that moderate or severe shortages of vaccine will exist early in the course of an incident, and it is also possible that no vaccine will be available.
- The supply of anti-viral medications used for prevention and treatment of exposure will be limited.
