Pandemic Influenza Operations Plan

Alberta’s Plan for Pandemic Influenza describes how the provincial government plans to respond to the threat of a pandemic in Alberta.  The plan has two main components; the Health Plan and the Operations Plan. A short summary of Alberta’s Plan for Pandemic Influenza is available at this link: http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-info/pandemic-influenza-plan.html

Health Plan

The health component of the provincial plan (Alberta Pandemic Influenza Plan for the Health Sector) aims to slow the spread of disease, minimize serious illness or death and avoid disruptions to essential community services. The plan will reduce the impact of the disease, but cannot eliminate it. For more information on the provincial health plan you will be linked to the Alberta Health and Wellness Pandemic site: http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-info/pandemic-influenza-plan.html

A key component of individual preparedness is staying healthy and avoiding contact with the influenza virus.  Alberta Health and Wellness has created an Influenza Self-care guide which summarizes the measures that individuals can take to protect themselves, it is available at: http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-info/pandemic-influenza-self-care.html

Operations Plan

The Pandemic Influenza Operations Plan is currently under review.

The second component of personal preparedness involves a person’s ability to look after themselves and their family in the unlikely event there are disruptions to essential services like electricity, water and food.  The federal and provincial governments have jointly prepared a guide which will help families prepare to survive on their own for up to 72 hours, it is available at: http://www.getprepared.ca/index_e.asp

Links

For more information on the Government of Canada’s plan for Pandemic Influenza please visit the Government of Canada Pandemic Influenza site: http://www.influenza.gc.ca/index_e.html

The Building Owners and Managers Association has developed a pandemic guide for owners and operator of office and multi-use buildings, it is available at:
http://www.bomacanada-pandemic.ca/

The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association has created a template for business and industry to use when they are creating a pandemic plan.
http://www.cme-mec.ca/national/template_na.asp?p=22

Alberta Employment and Immigration - Workplace Health and Safety has released a Best Practice Guideline for Workplace Health & Safety During Pandemic Influenza.  This document provides excellent guidance on what employers and employees need to know to be safe at work during a pandemic.  Follow the link below to view the guideline.
http://employment.alberta.ca/documents/WHS/WHS-PUB_bp002.pdf