What Is Pandemic, Flu And How To Protect Yourself

Summary
Avian flu or “bird flu” has been getting a lot of attention in the news. Some experts are concerned that it could turn into a worldwide outbreak among humans – a pandemic. Since 1997, the H5N1 bird flu strain has killed millions of birds. Understanding the facts about pandemics can also help you better prepare for this potentially life-threatening disease.

What is Pandemic Flu?

Pandemic flu is a term used to describe a virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Currently, there is no pandemic flu, but health officials are concerned that the bird flu which has caused about 250 illnesses and deaths among people in Asia, Africa, and Europe could become a pandemic flu.

What is the modern history of Pandemics?

• 1918-1919 – This outbreak of Spanish flu was linked to bird flu, as is the current pandemic threat. It caused an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide.
• 1957-1958 – This pandemic was caused by the Asian flu. It was moderately severe and caused nearly 2 million deaths worldwide.
• 1968-1969 – The Hong Kong flu caused this pandemic which claimed 700,000 deaths worldwide.
There have been several pandemic threats, including swine flu in 1976, Russian flu in 1977, and the current threat of bird flu.

How serious is the current bird flu threat?

Influenza pandemics typically occur at approximately 25-30 year intervals. A flu pandemic occurs when a virus changes so drastically from previous strains that people have little natural immunity, and large numbers of people get sick or die. Because there would be little natural immunity to the bird flu, the effects could be devastating

How likely is it to spread rapidly worldwide?

Infected birds shed the bird flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Domesticated birds may become infected through close contact with infected birds, or from contaminated cages, water, or feed.

What causes bird flu in humans?

Most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from direct contact with infected poultry, such as chickens, ducks, or birds. virus spreading from one person to another.

What are the symptoms of Pandemic flu?

Signs and symptoms are similar to common flu, but could be more severe, with increasingly serious complications.

Is there an effective vaccine for bird flu?

Several companies are in the development and testing phase for a bird flu vaccine. There are currently two anti-viral drugs that might help treat the disease. regular seasonal influenza. It’s not clear how effective this drug will be against bird flu. The other drug that may help is zanamivir (Relenza) which is also used for regular flu. Its effectiveness against bird flu is also uncertain.

How could life change if there is a pandemic?

The normal routines of life may change completely during a pandemic. • Food shortages at supermarkets
• Outages of electricity and water
• Hospitals and clinics overwhelmed and possible delays in medical treatments
• Service disruption from banks, government offices, post offices and telephone companies
• Workplace and school closures
• Breakdowns of transportation networks and travel restrictions.

Source VitaJournal, January/February 2007 pg 12.

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