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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