What is Pandemic Influenza?
Influenza (flu) viruses cause respiratory infections. Outbreaks occur from
year to year, and some strains are more severe than others. But a pandemic flu
virus would potentially be much more serious, and affect many more people, than
the typical flu viruses we have seen.
There are serious concerns that the current outbreak of bird flu in Asia
could develop into a pandemic. This strain of flu is transmitted to humans from
birds, and has severe—and sometimes deadly—effects. If the bird flu virus
changes so that it can be easily passed from infected humans to other humans,
its spread could be quick and devastating.
The exact nature of such a virus is unknown, so there is no vaccine available
yet to protect us from it. In the event of a pandemic, it will be a tremendous
challenge for health agencies to develop and then distribute a vaccine fast
enough to overtake the rate of sickness.
Date last updated: December 21, 2005 |
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Here are some links you might find helpful:
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- www.sccphd.org for more information
and fact sheets on pandemic flu, avian flu and isolation and quarantine, and MRSA
- www.cdc.gov for general information
about pandemic flu and other health related information;
- www.redcross.org for all the
information you will need to make your own emergency preparation plan;
- www.pandemicflu.gov for updates
on national and international pandemic influenza.
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FOR TRAVEL INFORMATION AND WARNINGS:
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