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Pandemic Flu
What Is Pandemic Flu?
Pandemic flu occurs when a flu strain new to
humans quickly emerges and cause widespread illness.
This new strain can originate from the resorting of
human and animal, such as bird or avian, strains
that leads to sustained human-to-human transmission.
(Resorting has not happened yet with the current
H5N1 avian flu, but the potential is there.) These
new strains are dangerous because humans have little
pre-existing immunity to them, because vaccines may
not be immediately available, and because antiviral
medicines may be less effective than for seasonal
flu. Past influenza pandemics have led to high
levels of illness, death, social disruption, and
economic loss.
Influenza, the “flu,” is a febrile
(fever-causing) respiratory illness caused by an
influenza virus. The Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) takes seriously the threat that influenza –
both seasonal flu and pandemic flu – poses to our
veteran patients, our staff, our medical system, and
the Nation and is taking several actions against
this family of diseases.
Seasonal flu is a form that regularly circulates
in humans, usually in winter, and that vaccines are
developed against annually. Seasonal flu can cause
significant illness and in some cases death.
Federal Guidelines: Community Mitigation
Strategies for Pandemic Influenza.
These strategies are public health actions that
may lessen the impact of a pandemic.
VA staff should check Pandemicflu.gov (http://www.pandemicflu.gov*)
where the guidelines are posted, and consider how VA
facilities might use them in pandemic flu planning
and response.
The new guidelines will be incorporated into an
update of the VA Pandemic Influenza Plan to be
released later this year.
PandemicFlu.gov - Pandemic Mitigation
http://pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/mitigation.html*
(link opens in new window to a non-VA website)
The VA Pandemic Influenza Plan
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/flu/pandemicflu_plan.htm
For questions, please contact Donna
Wells-Taylor at
donna.wells-taylor@va.gov.
The VA Plan will be updated in 2007.
Information on Use of the Antiviral Drug
Oseltamivir
VHA Information Letter: Oseltamivir Stockpile - September 2005
http://www.vethealth.cio.med.va.gov/Pubs/10200516
(2).pdf (link opens in new window)
Respiratory Infectious Disease Information
Respiratory Infectious Disease Emergency Plan for
Facilities
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/watch/respiratoryID.htm
Infection Prevention & Hygiene
Hand and Respiratory Hygiene, Personal Protective
Equipment
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/infectiondontpassiton
Emergency Management
Information on Emergency Management within VA
http://www1.va.gov/EMSHG
Other resources
U.S. Government
Official Web site for information on pandemic flu
and avian influenza.
http://www.pandemicflu.gov*
Medical Reserve Corps Pandemic Planning
Pandemic Flu Planning Guidance for MRC Units
http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/POUpdates/PandemicFluGuidance*
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC flu page
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/*
CDC Pandemic Flu Information
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/pandemics.htm*
Association of State and Territorial Health
Officials (ASTHO)
State departments of Health
http://www.astho.org/index.php?template=regional_links.php*
World Health Organization
Avian Flu Page
http://www.who.int/topics/avian_influenza/en/*
Global influenza preparedness planning
http://www.euro.who.int/eprise/main/who/progs/csr/cooperation/20050218_1*
Department of Health and Human Services
Disasters and Emergencies Web Site
http://www.hhs.gov/emergency/index.shtml*
* External Link Disclaimer:
All the links marked with asterisk ( * ) are External links. By clicking on
these links, you will leave the Department of Veterans Affairs Website. VA does
not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked website. Links
will open in a new browser window.
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