Are presently available vaccines useful in averting an influenza pandemic?
Avian Influenza FAQ'sYes, but in a precisely targeted way. Current vaccines, when administered to high-risk groups, such as poultry cullers, protect against circulating human strains and thus reduce the risk that humans at high risk of exposure to the bird virus might become infected with human and avian viruses at the same time. Such dual infections give the avian and human viruses an opportunity to exchange genes, possibly resulting in a new influenza virus subtype with pandemic potential.
Related QuestionsWhen will a vaccine against pandemic influenza be available?
Frequently Asked Questions About Pandemic Influenza and Avia...Currently there is no Avian Influenza Vaccines available for an influenza pandemic. The exact pandemic influenza virus cannot be identified before a pandemic, and current vaccine-making techniques require six to eight months to manufacture influenza vaccine. Questions and Answers: H5N1 Avian Flu Vaccine Trials The federal government’s goal is to have enough vaccine for everyone, but supplies will probably be limited in the early stages of a pandemic.
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 QuestionsSanta 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
If it is available, will first responders get the vaccine for pandemic influenza?
Frequently Asked Questions About Pandemic Influenza and Avia...Yes, according to guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, first responders and other healthcare personnel are some of the priority groups that will receive the vaccine against pandemic influenza when it becomes available. All properly worn personal protective equipment should protect the wearer. However, it is never possible to assure safety with 100 % certainty.
Related QuestionsARE VACCINES AVAILABLE TO PROTECT AGAINST PANDEMIC INFLUENZA VIRUSES?
Winnebago County Health Department - FAQ'sA vaccine probably would not be available in the early stages of a pandemic. When a new vaccine against an influenza virus is being developed, scientists around the world work together to select the virus strain that will offer the best protection against that virus, and then manufacturers use the selected strain to develop a vaccine. Once a potential pandemic strain of influenza virus is identified, it takes several months before a vaccine will be widely available.
Related QuestionsHow effective are influenza vaccines?
Avian Bird Flu Pandemic - Frequently Asked QuestionsThis depends on how well the vaccine matches the strains causing illness. Even with the best match influenza vaccines in preventing illness. But they can be expected to reduce complications, the need for hospital care, and deaths.
Related QuestionsWhy is pandemic influenza so serious?
Avian Flu Q/APandemic influenza can cause widespread illness and death. The influenza virus, in a pandemic situation, will infect many people in a short time. In a very severe pandemic, many people might die. The demand for healthcare services will increase during a pandemic influenza outbreak, and the number of healthcare workers available will decrease due to illness. Many essential services will be strained, and everyday life may be severely disrupted for a period of months.
Related QuestionsWill H5N1 cause the next influenza pandemic?
Frequently Asked Questions About Pandemic InfluenzaScientists cannot predict whether an avian influenza (H5N1) virus will cause a pandemic. That is why we are focusing on comprehensive public health efforts — increasing surveillance monitoring for outbreaks, international cooperation, antiviral and vaccine stockpiles and building more robust capacity for vaccine production — that will help protect us no matter what pandemic strain emerges or where.
Related QuestionsWhat is pandemic influenza?
Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Pandemic Influe...Pandemic influenza is a worldwide outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus to which people have little or no immunity appears in humans then spreads easily from person to person. The symptoms of such a virus would probably be similar to those of seasonal influenza, but the duration and/or severity of the symptoms might be different. The virus would spread the same way as a seasonal influenza virus.
Related QuestionsPandemic Qu?becAvian influenza, also known as avian flu or chicken flu, is a contagious viral infection affecting all bird species (poultry, pet birds and wild birds). Since October 2003, avian influenza epizootics (animal epidemics) have been reported in chicken in Asia: Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Cambodia, China, Laos and Indonesia. The virus strain in circulation is H5N1. To deal with these epidemic flare-ups, many countries are currently slaughtering millions of chickens.Related Questions
Is there a pandemic influenza vaccine?
Pandemic Influenza Frequently Asked QuestionsNo. Federal officials have contracted with a manufacturer to produce a small supply of human vaccine against H5N1 bird flu, and clinical trials are underway. The vaccine might not be effective if the H5N1 virus changes to a strain that more easily infects humans.
Related QuestionsWhat effect would an influenza pandemic have on our communities?
Pandemic Influenza Frequently Asked QuestionsThe effects of a pandemic could be severe. Many people could become sick at the same time and be unable to go to work. Many of us might have to stay at home to care for sick family members. Schools and businesses might close for a time to try to reduce the spread of disease. Large group gatherings might be canceled. These are examples of challenges that are being considered as we plan for a pandemic response.
Related QuestionsIf there is an influenza pandemic, what will happen?
Santa Barbara County - Pandemic Flu ResponseNo one knows for sure what will happen if there is another pandemic influenza. In the 1918-19 pandemic, tens of millions of people died around the world. Schools were closed, businesses shut down, people stayed at home, doctors and hospitals were overwhelmed. But in the pandemics of 1957-58 and 1968-69, many Americans were not even aware that there was a pandemic, even though thousands of people died. There is no way to predict how severe the next pandemic will be.
Related QuestionsWhat can I do to protect against pandemic or regular influenza?
Santa Barbara County - Pandemic Flu ResponseThe most important thing you can do to prevent or slow the spread of influenza is to wash your hands frequently and cover your cough. Wash your hands frequently. Wash hands before you prepare food, eat, or touch your face. Wash hands after you work or play outdoors, and after you touch things that many other people have touched. Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Put used tissues in the trash and then wash your hands.
Related QuestionsWill a mask protect me from pandemic influenza?
Santa Barbara County - Pandemic Flu ResponseThere is not enough information right now to make good scientific recommendations about the use of masks to protect someone from getting influenza. In a pandemic, people who are sick should use masks to help protect caretakers from the illness. People who are sick should also use masks if they absolutely must leave their house, to help protect others. Hospital and health care workers have a lot of exposure to people who are very sick.
Related QuestionsWhere can I get more information about pandemic influenza?
Santa Barbara County - Pandemic Flu ResponseFor more information about pandemic influenza, send us an email at fluinfo@sbcphd.org or phone 888-SBCoFlu (888-722-6358). Home | Individuals and Families | Businesses | Schools | Healthcare | Government | Communities | Media | Contact PandemicFlu.gov is the official U.S. government Web site for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza.
Related QuestionsPandemic Influenza - FAQinfluenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears or "emerges" in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide.Related Questions
Fire Department - Emergency Management - Pandemic Influenza ...Pandemic influenza is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in humans, causes serious illness and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide.Related Questions
PHILA.GOV | Philadelphia Emergency Preparedness and Responseinfluenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears or "emerges" in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide. Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks or "epidemics" of influenza.Related Questions
How would pandemic flu affect communities and businesses? What is an influenza pandemic?
Frequently Asked Questions About Pandemic InfluenzaA 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.
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