Avian Flu Preparedness: Breathing System Filters as a Crucial Barrier Against Transmission

Experts warn that a pandemic is inevitable, with the World Health Organization (WHO) unable to predict when the next influenza pandemic might occur. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that a severe flu pandemic would result in 90 million Americans becoming ill and nearly two million dying. The threat of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection is significant, with traditional disinfection methods failing to destroy viruses. The SARS virus was found to live on surfaces for up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel and 96 hours on glass slides.

Key Takeaways:

• The WHO recognizes that nosocomial infections pose a significant threat during a pandemic, with healthcare systems worldwide being ill-prepared to address such an event.
• Breathing system filters, such as those provided by Pall Corporation, can serve as a crucial barrier against viral and bacterial transmission, including airborne and liquid modes of transmission.
• Pall's breathing system filters have been shown to have an airborne bacterial and viral removal efficiency of at least 99.999 percent, making them an effective measure to minimize exposure to infectious diseases.
• The company's filters have been tested using bacterial (Brevundimonas diminuta) and viral (MS-2 bacteriophage) organisms, representing the gold standard for pathogen exclusion on the basis of size.
• The avian flu pandemic would put a significant strain on healthcare systems, with hospital staff likely to be reduced by illness and technological resources, such as mechanical ventilators, in short supply.
• Experts, including representatives from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Canadian Critical Care Pandemic Provincial Committee, will discuss influenza risks and protective measures in a global web-based interactive teleconference, sponsored by Pall Corporation.
• The webinar will focus on the role of breathing filters in the clinical setting and the importance of minimizing exposure during a pandemic.

Statistics:

• 5 to 20 percent of U.S. residents get the flu each year, with more than 200,000 being hospitalized for flu-related complications and about 36,000 Americans dying annually, according to the CDC.
• With a severe flu pandemic, 90 million Americans would become ill, and nearly two million would die, as estimated by the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Pall Corporation's total revenue for fiscal 2005 was $1.9 billion, with the company providing a range of filtration and separation products to meet the demanding needs of customers in various industries.

Sources:

• CCNMatthews
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Department of Health and Human Services
• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Canadian Critical Care Pandemic Provincial Committee
• Pall Corporation