According to CERC (Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication) expert Vincent Covello, Ph.D., reporters are likely to ask questions during a crisis that are related to three broad topics:

1. What happened?

2. What caused it to happen?

3. What does it mean?

The following are questions that reporters are likely to ask before and during an influenza pandemic. Suggested answers for pre-event questions are also included.

Pre-event:

1. What is an influenza pandemic?

A: An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears or “emerges” in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide. Past pandemics have led to high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss.

2. How is an influenza pandemic different from a normal influenza outbreak?

A: Seasonal outbreaks of influenza are caused by subtypes of influenza viruses that are already in existence among people, whereas pandemic outbreaks are caused by new subtypes or by subtypes that have never circulated among people or that have not circulated among people for a long time. Also, pandemics do not necessarily occur during what is considered the “normal” influenza season.

3. When will the next influenza pandemic occur?

A: It is impossible to predict when the next pandemic will occur, but many scientists believe it is only a matter of time. The last pandemic was the 1968-69 Hong Kong flu, which caused about 34,000 deaths in the United States.

4. How can an influenza pandemic be avoided?

A: It is nearly impossible to avoid another influenza pandemic. Instead, plans must be developed to be as prepared as possible when a pandemic begins.

5. Are we prepared for an influenza pandemic?

A: Plans for responding to the next influenza pandemic are being developed at the state, federal and even international levels. These plans deal with a variety of issues to determine how to make best use of available resources to care for patients and limit the spread as much as possible.

6. How many people could die in Indiana in an influenza pandemic?

A: The severity and death rate of any influenza pandemic is impossible to predict ahead of time.

7. Is there a vaccine available?

A: A vaccine probably would not be available in the early stages of a pandemic. When a new vaccine against an influenza virus is being developed, scientists around the world work together to select the virus strain that will offer the best protection against that virus, and then manufacturers use the selected strain to develop a vaccine. Once a potential pandemic strain of influenza virus is identified, it usually takes at least six months before a vaccine will be widely available. If a pandemic occurs, it is expected that the U.S. government will work with many partner groups to make recommendations to guide the early use of vaccine.

8. Can antivirals be useful during a pandemic?

A: Currently, four different influenza antiviral medications (amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir, and zanamivir) are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment and/or prevention of influenza. All four work against influenza A viruses. However, sometimes influenza virus strains can become resistant to one or more of these drugs, and thus the drugs may not always work.

9. Are there enough resources available to handle an influenza pandemic?

A: An influenza pandemic would require a large-scale response, both in terms of personnel and material resources. A great deal of work is being done now to either stockpile those resources or identify where and how they will be accessed.

10. What quarantine/isolation orders will be issued during an influenza pandemic?

A: The severity of the pandemic would determine if any such orders would need to be issued. However, the State Health Commissioner does have the authority to take such action, if it is deemed to be necessary. Local Health Officers can also issue similar orders at the local level.

11. How can people protect themselves?

A: The same steps that individuals can take to protect themselves from seasonal outbreaks of influenza will also be critical during a pandemic. Those steps include frequent and thorough hand washing and various “respiratory hygiene” practices such as covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough. It will also be important for people to stay home from work or school and seek medical care when feeling ill.

Event:

1. What is happening?

2. What is the cause of this influenza pandemic?

3. Were you prepared for this?

4. What steps are being taken to deal with this?

5. Why wasn’t this prevented?

6. How many people will die in Indiana?

7. How long will it be before the pandemic is over?

8. How are you prioritizing care?

9. What vaccines or treatment options are available?

10. What are you advising people to do?