The 20th Century saw three influenza pandemics. The most deadly, the "Spanish Flu" of 1918-19, killed an estimated 20 million people worldwide. Public health officials have warned that a global influenza pandemic is overdue. Appropriate contingency planning can reduce the extent of the outbreak as well as morbidity and mortality rates. It is vital that every jurisdiction be prepared to mobilize resources quickly and effectively to contain the influenza and limit its impact.
Estimated Impact On Niagara
In the event of a pandemic, estimated statistics for Niagara Region are:
- Clinically ill requiring out patient care: 34,425 to 80,323
- Hospitalizations: 829 to 1,934
- Deaths: 203 to 473
- Daily E.R. visits: 690
Estimates are based on information extrapolated from previous pandemic based on population estimates for Niagara of 421,571 1998 data.
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