7/13/07 Weekly Report: It’s Time for Hawai`i Island Residents to Prepare

The following article is courtesy of Carrie Kuwada Phipps of the State Department of Health, based in Kona. (This article originally appeared in slightly different form in West Hawai`i Today. Ms. Kuwada Phipps obtained permission from WHT to offer this to the County newsletter as a public service.)

We in Hawai`i have seen our share of disasters: earthquakes, tsunami, wildfires, volcanic eruptions and hurricanes. The message to each and every resident here in Hawai`i, as well as the rest of the United States, is: Be Prepared.

As we all know, Hawai`i is in a very remote location, makes us particularly vulnerable in a natural disaster or public health crisis.

Hawai`i imports about 80% of its food and goods, and interruptions of transport and shipping are very likely to occur in the event of a disaster.

It’s of utmost importance that Hawai`i and its residents are self-sufficient in an emergency situation, at the community level.

Pandemic flu a potential disaster

Topping the list of current potential disasters is pandemic flu. Experts say that we are at the highest risk for a global flu outbreak than we have been in the last 40 years.

The 20th century saw three influenza pandemics. The worst recorded influenza event was the 1918 pandemic flu, otherwise called the Spanish influenza which killed nearly 100 million people worldwide. The Hawai`ian Islands did not escape the Spanish influenza – it killed 1 percent of Hawai`i residents. The other two 20^th century pandemics, which were less severe, were the so-called Asian flu in 1957 and the Hong Kong flu in 1968.

Bird flu virus H5N1

World health officials say it’s a matter of time before the next pandemic flu appears. They fear that it will come from a mutation of the fast-spreading bird-flu virus H5N1. This particular strain of flu virus has affected about 300 people worldwide with a 60% fatality rate.

So far, H5N1 doesn’t pass easily from human to human except in extremely rare circumstances. However, if it evolves to do so (and viruses evolve readily), the virus could cause a new global health crisis.

Little or no immunity from H5N1

A pandemic flu would involve a new influenza virus for which there would be little or no immunity in the human population. This translates to the fact that many would die. Experts say that in Hawai`i, a pandemic could infect nearly 300,000 people and kill nearly 2,500.

It would overload already strained hospital systems and could bring business to a grinding halt with devastating effects on our economy.

Everybody needs to pitch in

State and Federal officials are preparing for the next pandemic flu outbreak. However, each and every one of us needs to be prepared to protect ourselves and our family because government won’t be able to do it all without community efforts. Government simply does not have all the resources that it will take in such a crisis.

We need the help of everyone in the community to cope with a pandemic flu event. Every resident of Hawai`i Island needs to be educated in what to do and what to stockpile at home if a quarantine is required. Being informed is key to tackling a pandemic as well as any other type of emergency situation.

In all probability, Hawai`i residents will be asked to remain at home should a voluntary quarantine be employed in a pandemic flu outbreak. This means keeping at least two weeks’ supply of food, medical and pet supplies at home.

Schools, businesses and many government offices may be closed to limit further infection, with employees ill at home or caring for sick family members. There may be a rate of 40% or more absenteeism during a pandemic.

We also have a very large visitor population, which would present additional challenges during a pandemic event.

What is the Department of Health doing to get people prepared?

There are two key initiatives that the Hawai`i State Department of Health has mounted on Hawai`i Island and the rest of the state to prepare residents for a pandemic:

Providing education/preparedness information to the community and to businesses through a presentation entitled: “Fearing the Flu – What You Need to Know about Pandemic Influenza”.
Recruiting community members as volunteers for the Hawai`i Medical Reserve Corps.

The Fearing the Flu presentation is an hour-long presentation/training that covers the basics of influenza, transmission, avian influenza, pandemic influenza, what you can do and what worksites can do to prepare for a pandemic.

The educational sessions are conducted upon request by Public Health Educators John Kaizuka in East Hawai`i (933-0911/email: john.kaizuka@doh.hawaii.gov ) and by Carrie Kuwada Phipps in West Hawai`i (322-4880/email: carrie.phipps@doh.hawaii.gov ).

All businesses, worksites and community groups are encouraged to call to schedule a session.

The Hawai`i Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is part of the Federal AmeriCorps and Citizen Corps Initiative. The MRC is an all volunteer group of people with medical as well as non-medical backgrounds who want to serve their local communities during public health emergencies or large-scale emergency response events.

The mission of the Hawai`i MRC is to establish teams of local volunteers who can contribute and assist medical and public health services throughout the year and during times of community need.

The Hawai`i Island MRC’s goal is to create a 200-300 person unit for Hawai`i County. Volunteers don’t need to have a medical background. The basic requirements are that the volunteers be self-sufficient and not already volunteering in any other disaster organization.

Active or retired physicians, nurses, veterinarians, paramedics, other health professionals, chaplains, social workers, interpreters and office workers are all needed. As an MRC member, you’ll receive disaster preparedness and response training and put your skills to work in our local community.

To volunteer or for more information on the Hawai`i Island HMRC, please contact coordinator Susan Parker at 974-6480 or email her at susan.parker@doh.hawaii.gov .

For More Information, please contact Public Health Educator Carrie Kuwada Phipps at the Hawai`i District Health Office, West Hawai`i at 322-4880.

CURRENTLY OPEN	DAYS/HOURS OF OPERATION	OPERATOR

Hawi Transfer Station**	Saturday only: 8 am-4:30 pm.	ARC of Hilo
(Open Saturday only)	(closed for lunch 1:00-1:30)
Hilo, 1260 Kilauea Ave. (Closed 12 noon-1:00 pm)	Tues-Sat 9am-5pm	Reynolds Recycling
Hilo, 30 Maka’ala Street	Mon thru Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm	Atlas Recycling
(Old industrial area)	Sat & Sun: 8:00am-3:00pm

Hilo Transfer Station**	Daily 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo

Honoka`a Transfer Station (Weekends only)	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30	ARC of Hilo
Kailua-Kona, Pawai Place	Mon thru Fri: 7:00am-4:00pm	Atlas Recycling
(Old industrial area)	Sat 8:00am-3:00pm
	Sun Closed

Kea’au Transfer Station**	M, W, F: 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo