Seasonal 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.

A 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.

In 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.

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.

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.

The 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.

Pandemic 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.

No 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.

A 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.

Anyone 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.

epidemic 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.

Yes. The seasonal outbreaks of influenza that often occur in winter are caused by the same subtypes of the virus which circulate in the population from year to year. When people catch the flu it does not make them completely immune to catching it again, but they usually have some natural protection. This means that the community has a degree of natural immunity to the usual winter flu each year.

Influenza viruses change very quickly. Each year, manufacturers make a new vaccine, to protect against the specific kind of virus that is spreading around the world. It usually takes about 9 months to make a new vaccine that protects against a new flu virus. That means that there will probably not be any vaccine for a new pandemic influenza virus for at least the first 6 months after a pandemic started.

Pandemic 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.

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.

Antiviral 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.

They 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.

Flu 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.

Maintaining good personal hygiene, such as washing your hands to prevent spreading the virus from your hands to your face

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.

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.

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.

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.