Is a pandemic imminent?
Frequently Asked Questions About Pandemic InfluenzaMany scientists believe it is a matter of time until the next influenza pandemic occurs. However, the timing and severity of the next pandemic cannot be predicted. Influenza pandemics occurred three times in the past century — in 1918-19, 1957-58, and 1968-69.
Related QuestionsIs a bird flu pandemic imminent?
FAQ's - AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU) AND AVIAN INFLUENZA A H5N...Probably not. But there are many unknowns involved, making accurate prediction impossible. Bird flu is still a bird disease. The H5N1 bird flu in Asia and Europe does not spread well from person-to-person. The first is a "reassortment event", in which a person is infected with a human flu and the bird flu virus at the same time. Genetic material is exchanged between the human and avian viruses during this co-infection, and a human version of bird flu emerges.
Related QuestionsIs an influenza pandemic imminent?
Department of Public Health & Human Services - Frequentl...Scientists and doctors can't tell us when or where the next pandemic flu will strike or how severe it will be. But most agree that there will be another pandemic sometime in the future. Pandemic influenza has occurred periodically throughout human history. Since we know that, we have an advantage: We can plan for the next one, whenever it might be. The scientific community is increasingly concerned about a new virus known as H5N1, a type of avian, or bird, flu.
Related QuestionsWhat is a pandemic?
Avian influenza : Frequently Asked QuestionsA pandemic is an epidemic that usually affects a large proportion of the population, occurring over a wide geographic area such as a section of a nation, the entire nation, a continent or the world.
Related QuestionsAvian Flu: Frequently Asked Questions - Shenyang, ChinaA pandemic may occur when three conditions have been met: a new influenza virus subtype emerges; it infects humans causing serious illness; and it spreads easily and sustainably among humans. The H5N1 virus meets the first two conditions. The risk that it will acquire the ability to have efficient and sustained human-to-human transmission is present as long as opportunities for human infections occur.Related Questions
Pandemic Influenza Frequently Asked QuestionsAn influenza pandemic is a global outbreak that results from the emergence of a new influenza virus that can cause serious illness in humans, and spreads easily from person to person.Related Questions
When is the next pandemic due?
Avian Bird Flu Pandemic - Frequently Asked QuestionsWe do not know ? it can't be predicted. The gaps between previous pandemics have varied widely. Intervals between previous pandemics have varied from 11 to 42 years with no recognisable pattern. Three influenza pandemics occurred in the last century ? 1918/19 (Spanish flu), 1957/58 (Asian flu) and 1968/69 (Hong Kong flu). All affected large numbers of the population, causing many deaths and huge economic and social disruption.
Related QuestionsIs a pandemic inevitable?
Frequently Asked QuestionsPandemics tend to occur every 10-40 years. Almost all experts say that an influenza pandemic is inevitable. Therefore, it is important that we prepare properly. While we haven't learned to prevent pandemics, our ability to treat influenza improves all the time.
Related QuestionsCan a pandemic be prevented?
Avian Flu: Frequently Asked Questions - Shenyang, ChinaThe answer is unclear. The best way to prevent a pandemic would be to eliminate the virus from birds, an unlikely scenario in the near future. As mentioned above, there are theoretical models of prophylactically utilized antivirals near the start of a pandemic to reduce the emergence of a fully transmissible virus or delay its international spread and to gain time for vaccine development.
Related QuestionsWhat is Pandemic Flu?
Avian Flu - FAQPandemic influenza is a worldwide outbreak of flu caused by a new flu virus that people have not been exposed to before. Because our bodies would have no resistance to this new virus, it could spread quickly from person to person and cause serious illness.
Related QuestionsWill there be a flu pandemic?
Avian Flu - FAQNo one can predict when, or if, a flu pandemic might occur. Previous influenza pandemics (such as ones in 1918, 1957, and 1968) resulted in large numbers of illness and death. Many government organizations and businesses are developing plans for coping with a pandemic since preparedness is the best strategy. H5N1 was identified in 1996/1997, and has yet to mutate to a strain that is easily transmissible from human to human.
Related QuestionsWhat is influenza pandemic?
Champlain College: Emergency Preparedness: Pandemic FluA pandemic is a global disease outbreak. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population, begins to cause serious illness, and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide.
Related QuestionsWhen will the next pandemic occur?
Pandemic Influenza Frequently Asked QuestionsInfluenza pandemics are known to have occurred several times each century since the Middle Ages. There were three influenza pandemics in the 20th century, in 1918, 1957 and 1968. Experts believe we are overdue for the next influenza pandemic. No one can predict when a pandemic might occur, but many scientists from around the world are watching the H5N1 avian (bird) influenza situation in Asia and Europe very closely.
Related QuestionsAvian Influenza Frequently Asked Questionsinfluenza pandemic is a global outbreak that occurs when a new influenza virus emerges among people, spreads, and causes disease worldwide. CDC and WHO are actively monitoring influenza world wide, including Asia, of the potential emergence of pandemic strains of influenza.Related Questions
Santa Barbara County - Pandemic Flu Responseinfluenza pandemic is an outbreak of disease that occurs when there is a new flu virus that can spread from person-to-person. Because a pandemic virus is new, no one has immunity to it, so it spreads quickly around the world. There have been three influenza pandemics in this century - in 1918-19, 1957-58, and 1968-69.Related Questions
Will there be a pandemic soon?
Santa Barbara County - Pandemic Flu ResponseNo one can predict when the next pandemic will happen. Just like earthquakes. Because we live near big earthquake faults, we know we will have a big earthquake some day. But we don’t know when “the big one” will happen, or just how big it will be. We also know that another pandemic will happen; but we can’t tell when, or how severe it will be.
Related QuestionsWhat about the pandemic risk?
Bird Flu FAQ Bird FluA pandemic can start when three conditions have been met: a new influenza virus subtype emerges; it infects humans, causing serious illness; and it spreads easily and sustainably among humans. The H5N1 virus amply meets the first two conditions: it is a new virus for humans (H5N1 viruses have never circulated widely among people), and it has infected more than 100 humans, killing over half of them. No one will have immunity should an H5N1-like virus emerge.
Related QuestionsWhat's pandemic flu?
NAVA pandemic occurs when a disease spreads rapidly, affecting most countries and regions of the world. Flu pandemics have occurred periodically throughout human history – including a major pandemic in 1918, and smaller pandemics in 1957 and 1968. The symptoms of pandemic flu are similar to those of seasonal flu but are usually more severe. Bird flu or H5N1 is a flu virus circulating in Southeast Asia, Europe and now Africa, that usually affects birds but also has infected people.
Related QuestionsCan anyone get pandemic flu?
Avian Bird Flu Pandemic - Frequently Asked QuestionsAnyone could get sick from pandemic flu. This is a new virus, to which no one is immune. However, about half of those who are infected can expect to have no symptoms ? called asymptomatic infection.
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