Pandemic Flu
by Chris Tuck, Health Services Director
August 20, 2009
What is a flu pandemic?
A flu pandemic is the rapid spread of a new strain of influenza virus, or flu, to many people around the world. A pandemic flu virus spreads quickly from person to person when people have not had a chance to develop to a natural immunity. A pandemic can come and go in waves, with each wave typically lasting six to eight weeks. There have been pandemics before. The largest was in 1918-1919, which killed millions around the world. Influenza returned in a less severe pandemic form in 1957-1958 and again in 1968-1969. Much of what we know about the flu today was learned during those outbreaks.
A pandemic flu is a dynamic, changing process and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) a pandemic occurs in phases including a post-peak and post-pandemic phases. In the 2009 revision of the phase descriptions, WHO has retained the use of a six-phase approach for easy incorporation of new recommendations and approaches into existing national preparedness and response plans.
In Phase 1, no viruses circulating among animals have been reported to cause infections in humans. In Phase 2, an animal influenza virus circulating among domesticated or wild animals is known to have caused infections in human. In Phase 3 there is some sporadic human-to-human transmission of the flu, but not enough to be widespread in a community. In Phase 4, there is verified human-to-human transmission of the flu virus that can cause a sustained, community-wide outbreak. In Phases 5 through 6, outbreaks occur in multiple communities, including different countries. Phase 6 is the true pandemic phase, during which flu outbreaks occur in countries in more than one WHO region.
In the post-peak phase, flu activity decreases, but there may still be waves of infection. In the post-pandemic period, flu infection rates return to those seen during a normal flu season.
At the present time several states in the United States have reported cases of swine flu with one death. Mexico has had severe cases and many deaths due to swine flu. The biggest question that still remains is "how severe with this pandemic be?" At the present time nobody has the answer to this question, yet "we do know the world is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than any other time in history."
To assist you with understanding current information about H1N2, please visit the following websites which provide specific information about pandemic flu, pandemic flu preparedness and the current Swine flu pandemic threat:
Shawnee County Health Department: Emergency
Preparedness and Community Outreach: Swine Flu
Information
http://www.snco.us/ha/ep-h1n1-flu.asp
What's New On The H1N1 Flu Site?
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/whatsnew.htm
http://www.kdheks.gov/H1N1/
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
Individuals and Families Planning
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/index.html
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/individuals.pdf
http://www.swinefluks.org/things_you_can_do.htm
Caring For A Sick Person
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guiddance_homecare.htm
