What is a Pandemic? Is it different to an Epidemic?
Avian Bird Flu FAQ - Frequently Asked QuestionsA pandemic disease is one that spreads quickly over a very wide geographical area and affects a huge number of people all over the globe. An epidemic disease differs in that it would normally be confined to a smaller geographic area, such as a single country or area, and would therefore affect a lesser number of people than a pandemic would. Typically, a pandemic can occur when a highly virulent disease emerges that is new to humans but is one that spreads easily amongst them.
Related QuestionsIsn’t there a flu epidemic every year? What is different about a pandemic flu?
Santa Barbara County - Pandemic Flu ResponseSeasonal flu happens every winter. It is caused by a virus that is not very different from other flu viruses that people have been exposed to, so there is some immunity (the body’s protection system) to it in the community. A pandemic flu virus is so different from other flu viruses that there is no immunity to it. A pandemic virus will affect a lot more people, and could make even healthy people very sick. About 36,000 people die in the United States each year from seasonal flu.
Related QuestionsWhat is the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic?
APFluWatch Answers Pandemic Flu and Avian Flu Questionsepidemic occurs over large geographical areas and affects a large percentage of the population (20-40%). Epidemics usually refer to issues in a specific region or country. A pandemic is an epidemic that occurs throughout the world.
Related QuestionsWhat do endemic, epidemic and pandemic mean?
N2N : HIV/AIDS FAQ and AnswersEndemic is the constant presence of a disease or infectious agent in a certain geographic area or population group. Epidemic is the rapid spread of a disease in a specific area or among a certain population group. Pandemic is a worldwide epidemic; an epidemic occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting a large number of people.
Related QuestionsWhat is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
Pandemic Influenza FAQA pandemic occurs over large geographical areas (usually worldwide) and affects a high proportion of the population; an epidemic, although it may be serious, usually refers to what is happening in one country or region.
Related QuestionsHow is pandemic flu different to "ordinary" flu?
Surrey Alert Public Info -A pandemic flu virus is a novel flu virus to which the population has very little or no immunity. This explains why it is able to spread widely.
Related QuestionsHow is this different from what is already being done on pandemic flu?
APHAThe APHA Get Ready campaign stands apart from national, state and local public health efforts because it is centered on helping individuals, families and communities prepare themselves. Most other efforts that are being conducted on pandemic flu preparing involve sectors — such as businesses, government or hospitals — doing what they need to get themselves ready.
Related QuestionsWhat is an epidemic?
EISS - FAQ InfluenzaThe occurrence in a community or region of cases of influenza clearly in excess of normal year-round frequency.
Related QuestionsIs AIDS an Epidemic?
Frequently Asked Questions about HIV/AIDSMany people remember the polio epidemic which lasted from the1930's until 1954 when a vaccine was finally developed. AIDS is called an epidemic but scientists have made substantial progress in research on AIDS. Within four years of the AIDS epidemic, scientists have identified the virus that causes AIDS, discovered how it is transmitted, and developed a blood test that detects infection.
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 QuestionsHow is a pandemic different from regular flu season?
Avian Flu Q/APandemic influenza is caused by an influenza virus that is new to people. Seasonal flu is caused by viruses that already exist among people. We have vaccines that help protect against the seasonal flu. No one would have defenses (immunity) to a new influenza virus. Currently there is no vaccine to protect us from a pandemic influenza strain.
Related QuestionsHow is pandemic flu different from the seasonal flu we see every year?
APHAIn cases of seasonal or annual flu, unlike pandemic flu, our bodies have some protection against the types of flu that go around each year. This is because our bodies have been exposed to these common flu strains before and have had time to develop some protection against them. This protection is also improved by the flu shots we get every year to keep us from getting sick. But that doesn’t mean that the annual flu is not a serious health threat.
Related QuestionsHow are pandemic, avian and seasonal flu different?
Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Pandemic Influe...Pandemic Flu: 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. Currently, there is no pandemic flu or influenza. Avian Flu: Avian or "bird flu" is caused by avian influenza viruses, which occur naturally among birds. Seasonal Flu: The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.
Related QuestionsWhy is "pandemic flu" any different from the flu we deal with each year?
Georgetown Prep: Boys Private Boarding and Day Jesuit High S...Pandemic flu is flu that spreads throughout the world. Roughly every 30 years a strain of flu erupts so unlike previous seasons that there is little to no immunity or for which vaccine cannot be produced quickly enough in the quantities needed to prevent the disease from spreading. An outbreak of this type spreads quickly and can kill many people beyond the normal risk groups In the influenza outbreak of 1917-1918, up to 100 million people worldwide died from the flu or complications.
Related QuestionsWhat is causing the epidemic?
CLOCC: FAQThere is not one single answer to this question. From genetics to politics, or from unhealthy cultural norms to too many hours spent in front of a television, there are a seemingly endless number of factors that are contributing to the rapid spread of obesity. At the simplest level it is obviously a matter of more calories consumed than expended.
Related QuestionsWhat are the "Big 7" epidemic U.S. diseases ?
theNQI.com - FAQThe Big 7 epidemic U.S. diseases are largely preventable chronic illnesses that have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. These seven diseases are robbing Americans of quality of life and longevity, and are draining U.S. healthcare resources.
Related QuestionsHow long will the current epidemic last?
Disease Listing, Cholera, General Information | CDC Bacteria...Predicting how long a Cholera epidemic will last is difficult. The cholera epidemic in Africa has lasted more than 30 years. In areas with inadequate sanitation, a cholera epidemic cannot be stopped immediately, and, although far fewer cases have been reported from Latin America and Asia in recent years, there are no signs that the global Cholera pandemic will end soon. Major improvements in sewage and water treatment systems are needed in many countries to prevent future epidemic cholera.
Related QuestionsWhat Are The Warning Signals Of The Plague Epidemic?
What Is Glomerulonephritis (GN)?The disease is transmitted from rats to man by small insects, (about 2-4 mm) i.e. rat-fleas which act as vector, i.e. they only transmit the disease, but do not suffer from it. Rather, they derive their blood meals from the plague-infected rats till the rats die. While sucking blood from... Vaccination is the key for the prevention of this disease. Therefore, a strict vaccination schedule must be followed.
Related QuestionsIs 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 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.
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