Pandemic Influenza
Family Emergency Preparedness
Confused about the difference between seasonal flu, bird flu, and pandemic Flu?
What is Seasonal Flu?
Seasonal Flu occurs yearly and runs from October through April. The seasonal flu is a respiratory illness that is spread from person to person. This wintertime illness is marked by fever, congestion, joint soreness, couging, and sneezing. People usually have some immunity against the seasonal flu, and there is also an annual vaccine available to help prevent becoming ill with season flu. The vaccine must be given each year to be effective.
What is Bird Flu?
Bird Flu is just that - a flu that affects birds. There has been a lot of attention focused on bird flu outbreaks that began in Asia in the late 1990s. That strain of flu, which is called H5N1, is highly contagious among birds. A small number of people have been infected with this flu virus through very close contact with birds.
What is Pandemic Flu?
A Pandemic Flu occurs when a new flu virus appears in humans and spreads easily from person-to-person, causing serious illness and death as it moves across the world. Flu pandemics are caused by new flu viruses, and because they are new, humans have little or no immunity to them.
History suggests that influenza pandemics have probably occurred during at least the last four centuries. Since 1900, three pandemics have occurred:
- 1918: Spanish Flu
- 1957: Asian Flu
- 1968: Hong Kong Flu
For more information on the history of pandemics go to pandemicflu.gov.
MAKE A PLAN. KNOW YOUR PLAN!
If a Pandemic occurs, how can I protect myself and my family?
Emergency Checklist for Pandemic Influenza
Emergency Guide for Pandemic Influenza
Cold vs. Flu, Know the Difference
Hospitals "Full Up": The 1918 Influenza Pandemic (video) - A historical look at the influenza pandemic of 1918.
Why Don't We Do It In Our Sleeves? (video) - Learn a new method to prevent spreading germs when sneezing.