Get e-mail updates when the
below information changes.A pandemic is a global disease
outbreak. Pandemic flu occurs when a new
influenza virus emerges for which people have
little or no immunity, and for which there is no
vaccine. It is difficult to predict when the
next pandemic influenza will occur or how severe
it will be, yet there is a valid reason to be
concerned about pandemic influenza reaching
Colorado.
Colorado has experienced three pandemic
influenza outbreaks in the last century (1918,
1957 and 1968). Today’s mobile society increases
the chances of pandemic influenza reaching the
state.
How Does This Affect You?
You’ve heard the stories on the news. Maybe
you’ve even read the warnings from public health
officials. The prospect of pandemic flu is
frightening. Not only is pandemic flu possible,
it is probable. It could happen this year, or it
could be many years from now, but it is
inevitable.
To get an overview about why this is, and how
being informed and prepared can help you if and
when an outbreak occurs, read our
Pandemic Influenza
Plan Summary.
If you’d like to learn even more about this,
read our in-depth
Pandemic Influenza Annex to the Internal Emergency Response
Implementation
Plan. This plan is a working
document that is updated based on actual events
and lessons learned from exercises and drills.
It specifically describes actions taken during
each pandemic phase for:
- Planning and Coordination
- Surveillance, Investigation, and
Protective Public Health Measures
- Vaccines and Antiviral Drugs
- Healthcare and Emergency Response
- Communications and Outreach
We have
created a number of
supplemental documents
to the Pandemic Influenza Annex that
contain a wealth of additional information.
