What is pandemic flu?
Pandemic flu occurs when a new influenza virus appears or emerges in the human population and causes a global outbreak of the disease, resulting in serious illness as it spreads from person to person. Pandemic flu has occurred naturally throughout history. There have been three pandemics in the last 100 years:
- 1918 - 1919: Spanish flu
- 1956 - 1958: Asian flu
- 1968 - 1969: Hong Kong flu
Pandemics are unpredictable and it is hard to know when one will occur, what type of flu it will be, and how severe it will be. A flu pandemic could cause many deaths and severe illnesses, disrupt some parts of daily life, and limit the amount of health and other services available. Gatherings of people might be limited to control the spread of the disease (schools and businesses may close, sporting events could be cancelled, and transportation could be limited). Additionally, hospitals could be overloaded if doctors and nurses are sick. There also may be more people with the flu than the hospitals can take. In this case, some people would need to be cared for in their homes or other places.
What is the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic?
Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks of influenza because seasonal outbreaks are caused by subtypes of influenza viruses that are already in existence among populations. Pandemic outbreaks are caused by new subtypes being developed, those that have never circulated or have not been around for a long time.
Click here for further information from the official U.S. government Web site for information on pandemic flu and avian flu.
For additional information about pandemic influenza from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), click here.
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
What is Avian Influenza (Bird flu)?
Avian influenza or bird flu is an infection caused by bird flu viruses. The current strain of avian flu that is occurring in Southeast Asia is called H5N1. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds and they carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks and turkeys very sick and kill them.
Click here to view additional key facts on bird flu by the CDC.
Click here for the World Health Organization's (WHO) Frequently Asked Questions on Avian Influenza
Why should we be concerned about a virus that infects birds?
The avian flu strain causing the outbreak in mainly Asian birds can spread from birds to people and cause serious illness and even death. There is a chance that the virus could mutate to a new flu virus that spreads easily from person to person. Because infections to new human flu strains can't be prevented by the annual flu vaccine, no one will be immune to the virus and making a safe vaccine that can prevent infection with a new human virus can take months to manufacture.
How is the disease spread?
Birds act as hosts to influenza viruses by carrying the virus in their intestines and shedding it in bodily fluids, such as saliva, nasal secretions and feces. Other birds become infected when they come in contact with these fluids. Humans can become infected through contact with infected poultry or these contaminated fluids.
What are the symptoms of avian influenza in people?
Symptoms of avian influenza in humans range from typical influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia and other severe and life-threatening complications.
How is avian influenza in humans treated?
Health care providers will tell patients how to treat their illness, depending on the severity of their symptoms. Treatment may include hospitalization, supportive care and/or the use of antivirals. One antiviral drug called Tamiflu (oseltamivir) has been shown in studies to possibly protect against the H5N1 strain of influenza.
Is it safe to eat chicken or turkey?
Yes, it is safe to eat poultry that has been fully cooked. General precautions should always be taken when handling any raw meat, including raw eggs, to avoid possibly spreading germs. These measures include:
- Washing hands and surfaces before and after food preparation
- Avoiding using the same utensils on raw meat as on other foods, even cooked meat
- Cooking raw meat thoroughly
The U.S. bans imports of poultry from areas inflicted with bird flu.
If traveling to Southeast Asia or to countries that have reported positive cases of avian influenza, visit the CDC Travelers' Health Web site for important information before traveling.
What is the Kentucky Department for Public Health doing to prepare for pandemic flu?
The Department for Public Health is taking the possibility of a flu pandemic very seriously. Kentucky has recently updated the state's pandemic influenza plan, which addresses such issues as how we could limit the spread of the disease, stretch available resources, and best protect the health and safety of Kentuckians in the event of pandemic flu. It builds upon the infrastructure and successful relationships that were developed over the past several years of increased disaster preparedness planning statewide.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Pandemic Influenza Plan provides a blueprint from which to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead for the nation. Click here to view the HHS pandemic influenza plan.
Fifty local pandemic flu summits have been conducted statewide with all 120 counties participating to address pandemic flu preparedness. These summits were designed to help public health and emergency response communities to inform and involve political, economic and community leadership in the state's pandemic planning process.
A pandemic influenza tabletop exercise was held Jan. 31, 2007 at the Kentucky History Center in Frankfort that focused on possible school closings and served as a catalyst for addressing awareness, planning and preparedness activities for school systems in the event of a flu pandemic. Approximately 80 representatives from various Kentucky schools and emergency response agencies participated in the exercise, which was a requirement under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) pandemic influenza grant guidance.
Click here to listen to a public service announcement from DPH on how to prepare for pandemic flu.
Kentucky recently launched a statewide pandemic flu informational campaign with the following four audio news releases:
Part 1 - What is pandemic flu?
Part 2 - Ways to protect yourself against pandemic flu
Part 3 - The potential impact of pandemic flu
Part 4 - How state officials are preparing for pandemic flu
An informational folding pocket brochure on pandemic flu was recently developed. Click here to view the English version. Spanish version is currently in production and will be posted shortly.
Protect Yourself
Health officials recommend people continue to take the same precautions to protect themselves against avian flu as they would from colds and other flu.
Precautions include:
- Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.
- Frequently washing your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer.
- Staying home if you have a cough or fever.
- Seeing your health care provider as soon as possible if you have a cough or fever and following their instructions as prescribed to get plenty of rest.
Getting Ready for Pandemic Influenza
When preparing for a possible emergency situation such as pandemic influenza, it's best to think first about the basics of survival, including fresh water, food, clean air and warmth. Because it may be necessary to protect yourself and others from contracting the virus, you may have to remain in your home for several days. The checklist below contains certain items that may be especially important if you cannot leave your home and people cannot enter.
- Food and water - Be sure to have several days to a week's supply of canned/dried food and water on hand and a can opener. Grocery stores may not have adequate supplies or staff available to remain open. Don't forget baby formula and diapers. Basic utilities such as electricity or water may experience disruptions.
- Medications, First Aid Kit and equipment - If you must take medications on a regular basis, be sure to have an adequate supply to last the duration of your stay.
- Blankets - Ensure that you have plenty of warm blankets on hand in case of electricity disruptions.
- Phone - If there are disruptions to power, you will require a telephone (standard wired phone) that does not run on power from an electrical outlet. Cell phones may operate when the power is out, but wireless phones will not.
- Battery powered radio with extra batteries
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Items for personal comfort - Items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, facial and bathroom tissue should be on hand to make your time at home more comfortable. Be sure to include items for children such as coloring books, games and activities.
- Face and nose protection - Face masks should be available for each member of the family to prevent the spread of disease. Dense-weave cotton material that snugly covers your nose and mouth and is specifically fit for each member of the family. Do whatever you can to make the best fit possible for children. There are also a variety of face masks readily available in hardware stores.
- Large trash bags and ties - Large trash bags should be kept on hand to store garbage safely because garbage service may be disrupted or postponed for many days.
- Pets - Ensure you have plenty of food, water or litter available for your pets.
- Emergency Plan - Take the time to prepare a family emergency plan. Record medical histories, social security numbers and contact information on the Kentucky Community Information Pocket Guide. Ensure your children and family members know who to contact in an emergency. Don't forget to check in on your neighbors and the elderly in your community.