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Pandemic Influenza

What is Pandemic Flu?

By strict definition, a pandemic is the outbreak of a disease that is spread throughout several countries or continents. Pandemic flu refers to the emergence of a new strain of influenza for which people have developed little or no immunity and that no vaccine is available. These factors mean the disease, which is spread from person to person can easily spread through a country and around the world in a short period of time.

Bird Flu

birds

In recent years, there has been considerable concern regarding the potential for a potential pandemic due to the continued spread of the avian H5N1 virus (bird flu) throughout eastern Asia. While there have been no sustained human-to-human spread of this disease, there is concern that that the virus could change into one capable of human-to-human spread.

Influenza Type A - H1N1 (Swine Flu)

H1N1 is a new virus first seen in the United States in 2009. It is contagious and spreads from person to person. Like seasonal flu, illness in people with H1N1 can vary from mild to severe.

Resources

Pandemic Flu:

Influenza A – H1N1: