Pandemic Flu Brief Pandemic Flu Brief

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What is an Influenza Pandemic?What is an Influenza Pandemic?

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A pandemic is a global disease outbreak.

An influenza pandemic occurs when a new An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human is little or no immunity in the human population, begins to cause serious population, begins to cause serious illness, and then spreads easily person-to-illness, and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide. person worldwide.

How do Pandemic Viruses How do Pandemic Viruses Occur? Occur?

New influenza viruses emerge as a result of a New influenza viruses emerge as a result of a process called antigenic shift, which causes a process called antigenic shift, which causes a sudden and major change in influenza A viruses. sudden and major change in influenza A viruses.

These changes occur when proteins on the These changes occur when proteins on the surface of the virus combine in new ways as a surface of the virus combine in new ways as a result of mutation or exchange of genetic result of mutation or exchange of genetic material between multiple influenza viruses. material between multiple influenza viruses.

If such changes result in a new influenza A virus If such changes result in a new influenza A virus subtype that can infect humans and spread subtype that can infect humans and spread easily from person to person, an influenza easily from person to person, an influenza pandemic can occur. pandemic can occur.

Why are Pandemics Such Why are Pandemics Such Dreaded Events?Dreaded Events?

During a severe pandemic, such as the one that During a severe pandemic, such as the one that occurred in 1918, there would be large surges in the occurred in 1918, there would be large surges in the numbers of people requiring or seeking medical numbers of people requiring or seeking medical treatment, temporarily overwhelming health services. treatment, temporarily overwhelming health services.

High rates of worker absenteeism could also interrupt High rates of worker absenteeism could also interrupt other essential services. other essential services.

Because populations will be fully susceptible to a Because populations will be fully susceptible to a pandemic virus, rates of illness could peak fairly rapidly pandemic virus, rates of illness could peak fairly rapidly within a given community. within a given community.

This means that local social and economic disruptions This means that local social and economic disruptions may be temporary. may be temporary.

They may, however, be amplified in today’s closely They may, however, be amplified in today’s closely interrelated and interdependent systems of trade and interrelated and interdependent systems of trade and commerce. commerce.

What Age’s are most likely to be What Age’s are most likely to be Affected?Affected?

Although scientists cannot predict the specific Although scientists cannot predict the specific consequences of an influenza pandemic, it is consequences of an influenza pandemic, it is likely that many age groups would be seriously likely that many age groups would be seriously affected. affected.

The greatest risk of hospitalization and death – The greatest risk of hospitalization and death – as seen during the last two pandemics – will be as seen during the last two pandemics – will be infants, the elderly, and those with underlying infants, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions. health conditions.

However, in the 1918 pandemic, most deaths However, in the 1918 pandemic, most deaths occurred in occurred in young adultsyoung adults. .

Few if any people would have immunity to the Few if any people would have immunity to the virus. virus.

Could Terrorists Spread the Flu?Could Terrorists Spread the Flu?

Experts believe it highly unlikely that a Experts believe it highly unlikely that a pandemic influenza virus could be created pandemic influenza virus could be created by terrorists. by terrorists.

Developing a pandemic influenza virus Developing a pandemic influenza virus would require extraordinary scientific skill, would require extraordinary scientific skill, as well as sophisticated scientific as well as sophisticated scientific equipment and other resources. equipment and other resources.

What are Pandemic Alert What are Pandemic Alert Phases?Phases?

WHO Alert Phases:WHO Alert Phases: 1:1: Low risk of human cases  Low risk of human cases  22 Higher risk of human cases  Higher risk of human cases  33 No or very limited human-to-human  No or very limited human-to-human

transmission transmission  44 Evidence of increased human-to-human  Evidence of increased human-to-human

transmissiontransmission   55 Evidence of significant human-to-human  Evidence of significant human-to-human

transmission transmission  66 Efficient and sustained human-to-human  Efficient and sustained human-to-human

transmissiontransmission

What Phase Are We In?What Phase Are We In?

The world is presently in The world is presently in Phase 5Phase 5 of the Pandemic of the Pandemic Alert. Alert.

This means that there is a new influenza virus This means that there is a new influenza virus subtype causing disease in humans, and that it subtype causing disease in humans, and that it is spreading easily from human to human in is spreading easily from human to human in communities. communities.

Will Masks Protect Me?Will Masks Protect Me?

For workers that are or will be exposed to For workers that are or will be exposed to infected patients, N-95 (or higher) respirators infected patients, N-95 (or higher) respirators are recommended, in conjunction with personal are recommended, in conjunction with personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves, gowns, and protective equipment (e.g., gloves, gowns, and goggles), goggles),

If supplies of N-95 (or higher) respirators are not If supplies of N-95 (or higher) respirators are not available, surgical masks are recommended for available, surgical masks are recommended for patients who are infected to help reduce the patients who are infected to help reduce the potential for spread of virus when these people potential for spread of virus when these people cough or sneeze.cough or sneeze.

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)

# of countries w/ confirmed cases: 30# of countries w/ confirmed cases: 30 # of confirmed cases: 5251# of confirmed cases: 5251 # of deaths: 61 (56 in Mexico) # of deaths: 61 (56 in Mexico) # of states in the USA w/ confirmed cases: # of states in the USA w/ confirmed cases:

4444 # of confirmed cases in the USA: 2600# of confirmed cases in the USA: 2600 # of deaths in the USA: 3# of deaths in the USA: 3

Signs & SymptomsSigns & Symptoms

H1N1H1N1 FeverFever Dry CoughDry Cough Sore ThroatSore Throat Body AchesBody Aches HeadacheHeadache Runny or Stuff NoseRunny or Stuff Nose Chills Chills Fatigue. Fatigue. Diarrhea Diarrhea Vomiting Vomiting

Season FluSeason Flu FeverFever Dry CoughDry Cough Sore ThroatSore Throat Body AchesBody Aches HeadacheHeadache Runny or Stuff NoseRunny or Stuff Nose Chills Chills Fatigue. Fatigue. Diarrhea Diarrhea Vomiting Vomiting

To limit the spread of germs and To limit the spread of germs and prevent infectionprevent infection

Wash hands frequently with soap and Wash hands frequently with soap and water.water.

Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues.Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues. Stay away from others as much as Stay away from others as much as

possible if they are sick. possible if they are sick. Stay homeStay home from work and school if sick. from work and school if sick.

Where can I find more info?Where can I find more info?

PandemicFlu: PandemicFlu: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/index.htmlhttp://www.pandemicflu.gov/index.html

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/http://www.cdc.gov/

World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Organization (WHO) http://www.who.int/en/http://www.who.int/en/

American Red Cross (ARC) American Red Cross (ARC) http://www.redcross.org/http://www.redcross.org/

U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services (HHS): U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services (HHS): http://http://www.hhs.govwww.hhs.gov