What you should know about Pandemic Flu

(Bird Flu, Avian Flu)

Pandemic is defined as a global epidemic. Pandemics occur only a few times each century. The last one occurred in 1968 and killed 6 million people worldwide. Strains of flu that cause pandemics are different than those that cause the yearly flu epidemic that we experience in the United States. Yearly flu epidemics do not effect everyone and usually occur every winter. Many people develop some immunity to these more familiar strains of flu, often through their yearly flu shots. Pandemic influenza strains are flu viruses that were never identified in previous years, therefore, no vaccines exist and no one has developed any immunity. Pandemic flu can occur any time of the year and more people become ill and die during pandemics. The illness is worldwide and spreads very rapidly.

Unfortunately, development of an effective vaccine to prevent the disease cannot begin until a specific strain of flu is identified. Since 1997, the CDC and WHO have been carefully monitoring a strain of influenza that has killed hundreds of millions of birds in Southeast Asia. Until that time the virus had only been identified in birds in Southeast Asia, the disease has now been identified in birds in other countries such as Greece and Turkey. It has also been found in mammals such as pigs, tigers and cats. Although human-to-human transmission has not been seen, bird-to-human contact has infected approximately 200 people, about 50% of which have died. The world health community is concerned that a mutation of the virus could allow it to be transmitted from human-to-human. This type of mutation in viruses is common. Until the virus becomes highly contagious between humans, a pandemic can not begin.

Prevention by vaccination is the best way to react to the threat of pandemic flu. When vaccine becomes available, get a flu shot. There is some evidence that anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu, if taken in the first 48 hours of the infection may effect it's severity. Simple health practices such as thorough hand-washing, covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, and staying home when you are ill helps to reduce the chance of spreading the virus to others.

For more information on avian flu and the pandemic threat consult the following web sites:

• World Health Organization www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza

• Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov/flu/avian

• Department of Health and Human Services www.pandemicflu.gov

• Michigan department of Community Healthwww.michigan.gov/flu