Pandemic Influenza Plan - Questar III

Section 8: Travel-Related Disease Control and Community Prevention
contacts may not be possible. The range of interventions is more fully described in
Appendix 8-F. Pandemic influenza may involve a second and third wave of infection. It
may be appropriate to resume case and contact tracing and quarantining of contacts at the
beginning of new waves of infection.
2. Measures that affect entire communities
Later in a pandemic, when disease transmission is occurring in communities throughout
New York State, efforts directed at individuals and groups of exposed persons are much
less likely to slow viral spread and many would not be feasible to implement because of
the large number of ill persons and their contacts. Community-based containment
measures directed at the entire community that decrease social contact (e.g., selfshielding,
closing schools, restricting/cancellation of public buildings/events/gatherings,
snow days) and emphasize what individuals can do to reduce their risk of infection (e.g.,
hand hygiene and cough etiquette) may be more effective disease control tools.
These measures should be initiated when there is:
• Moderate to extensive disease transmission in the area;
• Many cases cannot be traced to contact with an earlier case or known exposure;
• Cases are increasing among contacts of influenza patients; and
• Significant delay between a case’s onset of symptoms and their isolation because
of the large number of ill persons.
Possible measures include:
• Promotion of community-wide infection control measures including respiratory
hygiene/cough etiquette, hand hygiene, and avoiding public gatherings (e.g.,
movies, religious services, public meetings). Persons at high risk for
complications of influenza should also avoid going to public areas (e.g., food
stores, pharmacies); the use of other persons for shopping or home delivery
service is encouraged.
o The benefit of wearing masks by well persons in public settings has not
been established and is not recommended as a public health control
measure at this time. Nevertheless, persons may choose to wear a mask as
part of an individual protection strategy that includes cough etiquette,
hand hygiene, and avoiding public gatherings. Mask use may be most
important for persons who are at high risk for complications of influenza
and those who are unable to avoid close contact with others or must travel
for essential reasons such as seeking medical care. Public education
should be provided on how to use and dispose of masks appropriately. In
addition, this education should emphasize that mask use is not a substitute
for social distance or other personal protection measures. Supply issues
should be considered so that mask use in communities does not limit
availability for healthcare settings where the importance and effectiveness
of mask use has been documented.
February 7, 2006 8-6