Emergency manager warns of flu outbreak possibilities

There is a strong possibility that a pandemic flu outbreak could occur sometime within the next 5-10 years, Bourbon County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers said.

"A pandemic flu is one of the major disasters, one of the top-10 disasters that we're looking at right now, where it's kind of not an 'if' but 'when' situation," Jeffers said. "It's one of the scary things that we're all kind of gearing up for. Flu clinics are one way that we're trying to combat it."

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Jeffers said he encourages local residents to obtain a flu shot at one of several upcoming area flu clinics. The first available clinic is being conducted by the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the First United Methodist Church, 301 S. National Ave. Residents will be able to receive a flu shot for $30 during the drive-by clinic.

Local residents should be informed about the various types of influenza that currently exist, and prepared in the event of a pandemic, or global outbreak of the disease, Jeffers said.

"We don't know what variety of flu it will be," he said. "A pandemic could also include the bird (avian) flu. That's why we use vaccines that knock out the most varieties of flu at once."

A flu pandemic can be extremely dangerous and deadly, as evidenced by an influenza outbreak that occurred in three waves in the United States in 1918-19 that killed between 20 million and 50 million people, including 675,000 Americans, according to the Web site www.pandemicflu.gov.

Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person, the site said.

According to the site, Kansas is often considered to be the state where the devastating 1918 pandemic originated, after a physician that year had treated a number of severe influenza cases.

The site also explains current information available and planning that is being done across the nation to stop or limit the effects of a potential pandemic flu outbreak.

Jeffers said Bourbon County is prepared in the event that a flu outbreak occurs in the area.

"We're as prepared right now as we can be," he said. "Mercy hospital, local government, the schools; they're all aware of plans that need to be done. We have to be ready so we can limit or stop it."

The Oct. 7 flu clinic will also be evaluated as an Exercise for a Point of Dispersal as part of the county's planning for the possibility of a pandemic influenza epidemic, Jeffers said.

"The Tuesday flu clinic is a test of what would happen if we had to inoculate people quickly and start putting out the word," he said. "We have the ability to stop it if everyone gets flu shots, schools make sure kids stay home, and government workers are prepared to work at home."

In the event of a pandemic flu outbreak, a quarantine would take place that would require area residents to stay home from work and school and remain in their homes until the quarantine is lifted.

The media would be alerted of the emergency immediately, and several agencies, including emergency response personnel, city and county officials, local health departments, and local police and fire departments, would work together in an effort to combat the outbreak. A Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) truck would arrive with a supply of flu vaccines for the population, Jeffers said.

"One infected person could infect two more people," he said. "People should limit their contact with other people during a pandemic. It (pandemic) would affect government at every level."

Local, state and national levels of government currently have plans in place to stay on track with situations that change constantly around the world concerning influenza. Businesses, work places, schools, public health organizations, and individuals should have plans in place to be prepared for the possibility of a pandemic flu, according to information provided by Jeffers.

According to www.pandemicflu.gov, the avian flu is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. The highly pathogenic H5N1, a type of the avian flu virus that is the most deadly, can be transmitted from birds to humans and is deadly to humans. There is virtually no human immunity and the vaccine is very limited. A low pathogen type of the avian flu virus is common and causes few problems.

About 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 die from complications of influenza infections. More information about influenza vaccination can be found in the Thursday edition of The Fort Scott Tribune.

Anyone who is interested in assisting with the planning for the possibility of a pandemic influenza outbreak may contact Jeffers at (620) 223-3800, extension 46, or by e-mail at kjeffers@bourboncountyks.org. Information is also available on the Bourbon County Web site, www.bourboncountyks.org/emergency_mgmt.h....