Influenza pandemic? Dentists urged to read reliable sources
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Posted June 6, 2005 |
By Mark Berthold The American Dental Association has issued a report on the potential worldwide spread of severe influenza, and how dentists can be responsive to such an event in the United States.
The new report, "Influenza Pandemic," by Dr. Albert H. Guay, ADA chief policy advisor, is available from the Association online in the Dental Topics content area or by calling Ext. 2844.
"The threat of an influenza pandemic is real, and prediction of a pandemic's onset or immediate containment remain impossible," says Dr. Guay.
"Yet, this is not a reason for hysterics or panic," he adds. "Instead, I urge dentists to pay attention to health reports from around the world, and to look for balanced information from reliable sources — not from alarmist opinions."
In his report, Dr. Guay outlines the historical characteristics and typical progression of an influenza pandemic. In discussing our federal government's strategies to handle a future event, he makes clear that no predetermined plan will be absolutely the best for whatever situation may occur — since information about the exact nature of a pandemic must await its emergence. Nonetheless, he says, a well-developed plan will allow a mechanism to establish for the most rapid response.
"How badly a potential pandemic might affect the United States is anybody's guess," he notes, "but we do know that our public health infrastructure in the United States is vastly different than in the past, when devastating influenza pandemics hit with little warning."
Surveillance and early detection are key steps to containing the initial outbreak of a new and potentially severe strain of influenza. Sick patients would likely go first to the medical community with flu-like symptoms, rather than go to the dentist for treatment.
"The dentists' role would be ancillary," says Dr. Guay, "but their vigilance concerning patient behaviors could still aid in the early detection of an influenza outbreak."
However, in the event of a full-scale pandemic, the medical community would not be able to control or monitor the situation on its own. Local medical resources could be overwhelmed.
"The surge capacity would be over the top," he says, "and dentists may need to play a hands-on and vital role to counteract the spread of disease and safeguard the public health."
Infection control procedures, for example, would likely need to increase, as well as apply beyond the operatory and dental treatment into the waiting room. Dental offices may be required to close down, except for emergency treatment. Two ADA councils, he notes, are considering which expanded infection control practices may be appropriate for dental offices to employ in the event of a severe influenza situation.
Dentists might also be mobilized in ways similar to a response to bioterrorism, such as administering medications and immunizations or using their dental offices as temporary medical centers.
"Which is why the ADA is urging dentists to be familiar with their state dental society's emergency response plan," says Dr. Guay, "to keep themselves up-to-date with mass-disaster training programs and above all, to pay attention and keep informed by monitoring world health events from reliable sources.
"The ADA will help," he adds, "by providing information to dentists in a timely manner."
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