Pandemic Influenza
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak that occurs when a new strand of influenza virus, for which no vaccine exists, spreads rapidly through communities, across countries, and around the world. Implicit in the definition of a pandemic is the notion that “everyone” is at-risk, as all geographic areas can potentially be affected and virtually no one is inherently immune. Yet past disasters and pandemic influenza outbreaks, for example the Spanish Flu of 1918, have shown that certain segments of the population, such as racial/ethnic minorities, suffer greater mortality, morbidity, social disruption, and economic loss. Factors that contribute to these disparities include: greater risk of exposure (living in densely populated urban areas); increased susceptibility (pre-existing poor health status and low-socioeconomic status); and barriers to treatment (lack of insurance coverage to receive care or geographic isolation). Below is a list of resources to help guide program and policy development to prepare culturally diverse communities for a pandemic influenza.
Articles and Reports
At- Risk Populations Project: The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) received a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop recommendations on how to protect at-risk populations, such as those which are culturally isolated or have limited English proficiency, during an influenza pandemic. This webpage provides links to the full report, background tools, and additional planning resources.
ToolKits
Promotores for Pandemic Influenza: This toolkit, developed by the El Paso City-County Health and Environment District, provides a variety of materials to train lay heath promoters to educate Hispanic/Latino communities about what they can do to prepare for an influenza pandemic.
Translated Materials
Ethnic Media Roundtable Kit: The Ethnic Media Roundtable Kit contains resources in various languages on pandemic flu, seasonal flu, and emergency preparedness. The kit was provided to members of the media who attended a roundtable discussion hosted by the California Department of Public Health.
Pandemic Flu Preparedness Brochure: Individuals and Families: This brochure highlights differences between annual and pandemic flu and provides information on what individuals and families can do to prepare. The resource is available in Arabic,
Armenian,
Chinese,
English,
Farsi,
Khmer/Cambodian,
Korean,
Russian,
Spanish,
Tagalog,
Thai, and
Vietnamese.
Home Care for Pandemic Flu: This handout contains information on how to provide home care in the event of pandemic flu outbreak, and is available in
Arabic,
Chinese Simplified,
Chinese Traditional,
English,
French,
Hindi,
Japanese,
Korean,
Russian,
Somali,
Spanish, and
Vietnamese.
Pandemic Flu- What it is and How to Prepare: This handout provides information on possible pandemic flu outbreaks, and is available in
Arabic,
Chinese Simplified,
Chinese Traditional,
English,
French,
Hindi,
Japanese,
Korean,
Russian,
Somali,
Spanish, and
Vietnamese.