Municipal Infection Disease Plan approved
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

A Municipal Infectious Disease Plan was recently approved by Caledon council following direction from the provincial government.

Fire Chief Brad Bigrigg told council the province directed municipalities in 2006 to prepare contingency plans in the event of an outbreak of pandemic influenza. Caledon representatives met with other community emergency management co-ordinators within Peel region along with Peel Public Health staff during the preparation of Caledon's Municipal Infectious Disease Plan. The Caledon plan is consistent with similar plans in the region and meets the expectations of Emergency Management Ontario.

Bigrigg noted the goals of the pandemic response are to minimize illness and death, reduce societal disruption, maintain continuity of government and maintain confidence in government.

He added annual influenza affects 10 to 20 per cent of the general population. Pandemic influenza occurs three to four times per century.

The province told Caledon to plan for 70 per cent of the population being affected and for 15 to 35 per cent to be clinically ill. The Town was also told to have a business plan for 10 per cent, 20 per cent and 30 per cent staff absenteeism. Caledon would respond to an outbreak by supporting vaccine sites.

The impact on Peel over 18 to 24 months is estimated to be 162,545 outpatient visits, 3,331 hospitalizations and 699 deaths.

Peel Public Health's role includes co-ordinating pandemic planning for the Peel health sector, local surveillance, mass immunization clinics, distribution of antiviral drugs and vaccines, communication with the public and assessing the capacity of local health services.

The municipal sector's role includes co-ordinating decision-making and response, establishing and co-ordinating an incident management system, distributing emergency information and communication, managing the natural death surge, coordinating social services and priority municipal services, providing support for the health sector, maintaining critical infrastructure and ensuring the continuity of operations across Peel region.