Can pandemic flu be prevented?
Fire Department - Emergency Management - Pandemic Influenza ...A person infected with influenza virus can be contagious for 24 hours before the onset of symptoms, and for seven days thereafter, making it extremely easy for the virus to spread rapidly to large numbers of people. It may not be possible to prevent or stop a pandemic once it begins. Some strategies for slowing the spread of a severe influenza outbreak could include temporarily closing schools, sports arenas, theaters, restaurants, taverns, and other public gathering places and facilities.
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'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.
Related QuestionsWhat is the flu and how is it prevented?
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent this illness is by getting a flu vaccination each fall. For more information, see www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm. influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide.
Related QuestionsWPH MMRS Pandemic FluPublic Health Worcester Metropolitan Medical Response System is working with federal, state, and other local government agencies to respond to pandemic influenza and to maintain essential health care and community services if an outbreak should occur. In fact, governments all around the world are preparing for the possibility of a pandemic outbreak under the leadership of the World Health Organization. It is not possible to prevent or stop a pandemic once it begins.Related Questions
If I get the pandemic flu, is there a medicine to take?
Frequently Asked QuestionsAntiviral drugs may help prevent infection in people at risk and lessen the impact of symptoms in those infected with influenza. It is unlikely that they would substantially modify the course or effectively contain the spread of an influenza pandemic.
Related QuestionsAre our hospitals ready for a pandemic of flu?
Frequently Asked QuestionsThey are better prepared than ever. Contingency plans are in place in case they need more room for patients. Like everyone, hospitals need to continue to prepare and plan.
Related QuestionsPandemic Influenza :: Union Hospital Health Group :: Your Pa...The pandemic flu occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily person-to-person causing serious illness. The flu pandemic can sweep across the country and around the world in very rapid time.Related Questions
What causes Pandemic Flu?
Avian Flu - FAQFlu viruses have the ability to change or mutate, and any flu virus can mutate into a new form that easily infects people, spreads rapidly from person to person and causes serious illness. If this happens, we will not have a vaccine for this new virus and a pandemic could result.
Related QuestionsHow can I protect myself against Pandemic Flu?
Surrey Alert Public Info -Maintaining good personal hygiene, such as washing your hands to prevent spreading the virus from your hands to your face
Related QuestionsHow is Surrey planning for Pandemic Flu?
Surrey Alert Public Info -Any Pandemic Flu will be managed on a multi-agency basis using the Surrey Major Incident Plan (copies can be found on the Surrey County Council website) Avian Flu ("Bird Flu") is a contagious disease of birds caused by influenza A viruses. The infection of humans is very rare. In the last 2 years there have been less than 120 cases worldwide and these have all been in South East Asia.
Related QuestionsCan a flu that has been around become a pandemic?
No. An influenza virus that is new, or one that hasn't been around for many years causes a pandemic. The type of flu we have each season will vary, but these strains have been around and our bodies are more able to cope with them. Seasonal flu bugs cannot cause a pandemic.
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 QuestionsWhen will pandemic flu get to Rhode Island?
Frequently Asked Questions About Pandemic Influenza and Avia...No one can predict when a pandemic will occur, or how fast it will spread across the world. More information on global surveillance activities. In Rhode Island, it is estimated that up to 30% of the Rhode Island population might become sick in a few weeks. In a very severe pandemic, many infected people might die. The demand for healthcare services will significantly increase, and the number of healthcare workers may be reduced at any given time.
Related QuestionsHow does a flu pandemic start?
NAVFlu viruses are constantly changing, producing new strains. Flu pandemics occur when a virus emerges that is so different from previous strains that few, if any people have immunity. This allows it to spread widely and rapidly, potentially affecting millions of people worldwide. The new virus may be the result of an animal virus, usually from a bird, mixing with a human virus to produce a new strain.
Related QuestionsHow likely is a flu pandemic?
NAVThree pandemics have occurred in the last 90 years, in 1918, 1957 and 1968. Scientists predict that another pandemic will happen, although they can't say exactly when. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has compiled a summary of the pandemics and "pandemic scares" that have occurred in the last 100 years.
Related QuestionsHow likely am I to catch pandemic flu?
NAVDuring a pandemic you're more likely to catch it than seasonal flu because it spreads rapidly and very few people will have immunity. Everyone will be at risk. Some groups of people may be more at risk than others, but every pandemic is different, so until the virus starts spreading it is very difficult to predict who these groups might be.
Related QuestionsCan a vaccine be made to protect against pandemic flu?
NAVVaccines against bird flu are already being made and tested. Experts are also testing new ways of making vaccine quickly. If pandemic flu occurs, we’ll need a vaccine for the specific virus causing the pandemic. Flu viruses change constantly so there’s little time to prepare a vaccine in advance. This new virus would be different from the current bird flu virus. So although it's possible we may have a bird flu vaccine, it's also possible it may not work on the pandemic flu virus.
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