August 25, 2006
Did you know...?
There have been 236 reported cases of avian influenza to the World Health Organization (WHO) as of August 9, 2006 and 138 of those have resulted in death. WHO is coordinating the global response to human cases of avian influenza and monitoring the corresponding threat of an influenza pandemic.
Avian influenza refers to a large group of different influenza viruses that primarily affect birds. On rare occasions, bird viruses can infect other species, including humans. An influenza pandemic happens when a new subtype of a virus emerges that has not previously circulated in humans. For this reason, avian influenza is a strain with pandemic potential, since it might ultimately adapt into a strain that is contagious among humans. Once this adaptation occurs, it will no longer be a bird virus - it will be a human influenza virus. Influenza pandemics are caused by new influenza viruses that have adapted to humans.
A pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and starts spreading as easily as normal influenza - by coughing and sneezing. Because the virus is new, the human immune system will have no pre-existing immunity to it. This makes it likely that people who contract pandemic influenza will experience more serious disease than that caused by normal influenza. Infection and illness rates are expected to be higher than during seasonal epidemics of normal influenza.
Once a fully contagious virus emerges, its global spread is considered inevitable. The speed and volume of international air travel today could spread the virus more rapidly, possibly reaching all continents in less than 3 months.
High rates of illness and worker absenteeism are expected, which will result in substantial social and economic disruption. Employers need to prepare now! It takes 6-9 months to develop a vaccine to a new virus. Once the virus emerges, it will be too late.
To learn more about avian influenza visit the World Health Organization’s website at http://www.who.int/en/.
To learn more about how OHS-COMPCARE can help your employer prepare for Pandemic Influenza contact our Client Services Team at (816) 561-2105 or by e-mail at customerservice@ohscompcare.com. You can also visit us at www.ohscompcare.com.
*Please feel free to forward this information to any member of management in your company who would benefit from it.*
OHS-COMPCARE has eight (8) area clinical facilities:
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Blue Springs Clinical Facility |
Independence Clinical Facility |
Johnson County Clinical Facility |
St. Joseph Clinical Facility |
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801 NW St. Mary’s Drive |
17020 East 40 Highway |
10415 Lackman Road |
904 Edmond Street |
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Blue Springs, MO 64104 |
Independence, MO 64055 |
Lenexa, KS 66219 |
St. Joseph, MO 64501 |
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816-224-9121 |
816-478-9299 |
913-495-9905 |
816-233-7702 |
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*New Extended Hours* |
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KCMO/Broadway Clinical Facility |
KCMO/Front Street Clinical Facility |
Wyandotte County Clinical Facility |
Grandview Clinical Facility |
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1650 Broadway |
6501 East Commerce, Suite 110 |
1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200 |
13830 S Us Highway 71 |
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Kansas City, MO 64108 |
Kansas City, MO 64120 |
Kansas City, KS 66102 |
Grandview, MO 64030 |
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816-842-2020 |
816-483-5550 |
913-596-2774 |
***opening Fall 2006*** |