Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and for
which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily person-to-person, causes serious illness, and can sweep across the country and around the
world in a very short time. It is difficult to predict when the next influenza
pandemic will occur or how severe it will be. Wherever and whenever a pandemic starts, everyone around the world is at risk. Countries might, through measures such as border closures and travel restrictions, delay arrival of the virus, but they cannot stop it.

The goal of this document is to help healthcare workers and employers prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic. The guidance document is organized into four major sections:
• Clinical background information on influenza
• Infection control
• Pandemic influenza preparedness
• OSHA standards of special importance