PANDEMIC GENERAL
INFORMATION
Information provided by the US
Dept of Heath & Human Services
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 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
cannot stop it.
Health professionals are concerned that the continued
spread of a highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus across eastern Asia and other
countries represents a significant threat to human health. The H5N1 virus has
raised concerns about a potential human pandemic because:
- It is especially virulent
- It is being spread by migratory birds
- It can be transmitted from birds to mammals and in some
limited circumstances to humans, and
- Like other influenza viruses, it continues to evolve.
Since 2003, a growing number of human H5N1 cases have been
reported in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand,
Turkey, and Vietnam. More than half of the people infected with the H5N1 virus
have died. Most of these cases are all believed to have been caused by exposure
to infected poultry. There has been no sustained human-to-human transmission of
the disease, but the concern is that H5N1 will evolve into a virus capable of
human-to-human transmission.
Avian Influenza Viruses
Avian (bird) flu is caused by influenza A viruses that
occur naturally among birds. There are different subtypes of these viruses
because of changes in certain proteins (hemagglutinin [HA] and neuraminidase
[NA]) on the surface of the influenza A virus and the way the proteins combine.
Each combination represents a different subtype. All known
subtypes of influenza A viruses can be found in birds. The avian flu currently
of concern is the H5N1 subtype.
Avian Influenza in Birds
Wild birds worldwide carry avian influenza viruses in
their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. Avian influenza is very
contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens,
ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.
Infected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal
secretions, and feces. Domesticated birds may become infected with avian
influenza virus through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other infected
poultry, or through contact with surfaces (such as dirt or cages) or materials
(such as water or feed) that have been contaminated with the virus.
Avian influenza infection in domestic poultry causes two
main forms of disease that are distinguished by low and high extremes of
virulence. The "low pathogenic" form may go undetected and usually causes only
mild symptoms (such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production). However,
the highly pathogenic form spreads more rapidly through flocks of poultry. This
form may cause disease that affects multiple internal organs and has a mortality
rate that can reach 90-100%, often within 48 hours. The H5N1 virus is highly
pathogenic.
Human Infection with Avian Influenza Viruses
"Human influenza virus" usually refers to those subtypes
that spread widely among humans. There are only three known A subtypes of
influenza viruses (H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2) currently circulating among humans. It
is likely that some genetic parts of current human influenza A viruses
originally came from birds. Influenza A viruses are constantly changing, and
other strains might adapt over time to infect and spread among humans.
The risk from avian influenza is generally low to most
people, because the viruses do not usually infect humans. H5N1 is one of the few
avian influenza viruses to have crossed the species barrier to infect humans,
and it is the most deadly of those that have crossed the barrier.
Most cases of H5N1 influenza infection in humans have
resulted from contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks,
and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with secretion/excretions from infected
birds.
So far, the spread of H5N1 virus from person to person has
been limited and has not continued beyond one person. Nonetheless, because all
influenza viruses have the ability to change, scientists are concerned that H5N1
virus one day could be able to infect humans and spread easily from one person
to another.
In the current outbreaks in Asia, Europe, and Africa, more
than half of those infected with the H5N1 virus have died. Most cases have
occurred in previously healthy children and young adults. However, it is
possible that the only cases currently being reported are those in the most
severely ill people, and that the full range of illness caused by the H5N1 virus
has not yet been defined.
Symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from
typical human influenza-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, and
muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as
acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening
complications. The symptoms of avian influenza may depend on which virus caused
the infection.
Because these viruses do not commonly infect humans, there
is little or no immune protection against them in the human population. If H5N1
virus were to gain the capacity to spread easily from person to person, a
pandemic (worldwide outbreak of disease) could begin. No one can predict when a
pandemic might occur. However, experts from around the world are watching the
H5N1 situation very closely and are preparing for the possibility that the virus
may begin to spread more easily and widely from person to person.
Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and
Families
You can prepare for an influenza pandemic now. You should
know both the magnitude of what can happen during a pandemic outbreak and what
actions you can take to help lessen the impact of an influenza pandemic on you
and your family. This checklist will help you gather the information and
resources you may need in case of a flu pandemic.
- To plan for a pandemic:
- Store a supply of water and food. During a pandemic,
if you cannot get to a store, or if stores are out of supplies, it will be
important for you to have extra supplies on hand. This can be useful in
other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters.
- Have any nonprescription drugs and other health
supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold
medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins.
- Talk with family members and loved ones about how
they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for
them in your home.
- Volunteer with local groups to prepare and assist
with emergency response.
- Get involved in your community as it works to prepare
for an influenza pandemic.
- To limit the spread of germs and prevent infection:
- Teach your children to wash hands frequently with
soap and water, and model the correct behavior.
- Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with
tissues, and be sure to model that behavior.
- Teach your children to stay away from others as much
as possible if they are sick. Stay home from work and school if sick.
- Items to have on hand for an extended stay at home:
Examples of food
and
non-perishables |
Examples of medical, health
and
emergency supplies |
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables,
and soups
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- Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and
blood-pressure monitoring equipment
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- Soap and water, or alcohol-based hand wash
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- Medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or
ibuprofen
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- Anti-diarrheal medication
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- Canned or jarred baby food and formula
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- Tissues, toilet paper, disposable diapers
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