Pandemic Flu - Questions and Answers

What is pandemic influenza?

Pandemic influenza is also called pandemic flu. Pandemic flu is a worldwide outbreak of a new flu virus. People have little or no natural defense against pandemic flu because it is a new flu virus, or a virus that has not been around for a very long time.

What happens if there is a pandemic?

Pandemic flu can spread easily from person-to-person. It will likely cause serious, possibly life-threatening disease for many people. Pandemics are unpredictable and may present challenges for everyone—individuals, families, the medical community, schools, businesses, and government.

Have there been pandemics in the past?

Yes. There have been about 10 pandemics in the past 300 years. There have been 3 pandemics in the past century—1918, 1956, and 1968.

How do pandemics get started?

Pandemics are caused by influenza A viruses that occur naturally in birds or swine. There are differences among the viruses, but the one thing all viruses have in common is that they constantly change. Three subtypes of flu virus are currently common in people (H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2). When a virus changes into a subtype that humans are not use to, a pandemic may occur. (Link to how a virus changes).

Can seasonal flu become a pandemic flu?

No. Many people’s bodies can protect them from seasonal flu viruses and vaccine can be developed to help prevent illness from flu strains that appear each year. People have never had the strain of flu that causes a pandemic, so they have very little or no defense against it.

When will you know that there is a pandemic?

When the following 4 conditions are met, there is likely to be a sudden, widespread outbreak:

· The virus shows it can cause disease in people.

· The virus is new to humans.

· People have little or no protection against the new virus.

· It spreads easily from person-to-person.

What will happen if there is a pandemic?

A pandemic flu will probably be worse than a normal flu season (link to seasonal flu), but we really don’t know how bad it will be. It is important to understand the possibility of widespread, serious illness in order to be prepared.

How bad could it be?

Many communities are likely to be affected. A pandemic may come in “waves.” Many people will get sick for 6 to 8 weeks, then there will be a period where only a few people are getting sick. Within a month or two, the cycle will happen again. This may occur 2 or 3 more times. There may be a high death rate.

What are the possible challenges?

Essential services the public depends on may not be available due to illness and fear. These services include, but are not limited to health care, restaurants and theaters, government services, telephone and cellular services, banks and post offices, grocery stores and gas stations.

Food and water supplies may be interrupted and limited. Being able to work may be difficult or impossible (link to business pan flu page). Schools and pre-schools may be closed for an extended period of time, and medical care for people with chronic illness could be a problem.

Can a pandemic be avoided?

Health and government officials and scientists around the world are working together to identify conditions of a pandemic and slow the spread. If the right health actions are taken in both animals and humans to detect a pandemic strain and prevent its spread, the risk of a pandemic may be reduced.

Is there a pandemic right now?

No. Currently there is no pandemic flu anywhere in the world. Scientists and health officials are concerned because an avian influenza virus known as H5N1 (the “bird flu”) has infected a small number of people in Asia, Europe and Africa since 2004. For more information about the bird flu visit (Link to bird flu site).

Can vaccines help?

Knowledge of the exact strain of a virus is needed in order to produce vaccine that will protect against the pandemic virus. Getting the exact strain is very difficult because viruses constantly change. Once the strain is known, there will be a lag time before it can be made and distributed because of current vaccine production methods and capabilities. (Link to vaccine information.)

Will antiviral medicine help?

Antiviral medications are normally used to treat people who have just become sick with a virus. Some antiviral medicines may help in treating and preventing the spread of pandemic flu. It is unlikely that antiviral medications alone will stop the spread of pandemic flu. (Link to antiviral information page).

Is food safe?

Yes. As long as fowl (chicken, turkey and duck) meat, eggs and pork products are properly prepared and handled, and as long as they are thoroughly cooked, this food is safe. For more information about food safety visit: www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/.

Will facemasks be helpful?

Masks may help, but they are likely to be in short supply during a pandemic. Health care and laboratory workers will need to use masks when working with infected patients and specimens (link to universal precautions). The best thing you can do is wash your hands, practice good hygiene and cover your cough (link to hand washing, and cover you cough sites).

Is it safe to handle dead birds or other animals?

Avoid bare-hand contact when handling dead birds or other animals. (Link to dead bird website).

What is Placer County doing to prepare for a pandemic?

Placer County is devoting many resources to plan for, respond to and reduce the impact of a pandemic. For example, a pandemic influenza task force of many community leaders and partners has been meeting to plan and develop strategies to minimize both the spread of pandemic flu and its disruption. The task force has been communicating expectations and responsibilities to many partners, such as health care providers and emergency responders. In addition, Placer County Health and Human Services (HHS) is working to: teach health care professionals how to watch for the disease and, ensure rapid reporting of outbreaks, control outbreaks, if they happen. HHS is also preparing to continue essential public health services in the community, while at the same time deal with an outbreak and ensure timely, accurate information to the public about the status of pandemic in Placer County.

Should you worry?

No. But you should be prepared.

Should you depend on the government to prevent a pandemic and protect you?

No. County, state and federal governments, health officials and scientists around the world are doing everything they can to prevent and prepare for a pandemic, but they cannot do it alone. You should plan now to keep you and your family healthy and safe.

What can you do?

Stay healthy, practice good hand hygiene, and cover your cough. (Link to hand hygiene & cover Your cough). Get an annual flu shot (link to flu shot). This will help keep you healthy. Stay home if you are sick. Be prepared to follow health instructions from health authorities that may include avoiding large crowds and limiting travel that is not necessary. Keep food and supplies at home in case you need to stay there for several days or weeks, if necessary. Stay informed and develop a family emergency plan.

Where can you get more information about being prepared?

There are many sources. Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at: www.fema.ca.gov/areyouready/ or call 1-800-480-2520. Visit the office of Homeland Security at: www.ready.gov or call 1-800-be-ready, or 1-800-464-6161 (TDD), or visit the Official Government website at: www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/individuals.pdf.

Home > Departments > Health and Human Services > Community Health > Communicable Diseases > Flu - Influenza > Pandemic Flu
	Pandemic Flu - Questions and Answers What is pandemic influenza? Pandemic influenza is also called pandemic flu. Pandemic flu is a worldwide outbreak of a new flu virus. People have little or no natural defense against pandemic flu because it is a new flu virus, or a virus that has not been around for a very long time. What happens if there is a pandemic? Pandemic flu can spread easily from person-to-person. It will likely cause serious, possibly life-threatening disease for many people. Pandemics are unpredictable and may present challenges for everyone—individuals, families, the medical community, schools, businesses, and government. Have there been pandemics in the past? Yes. There have been about 10 pandemics in the past 300 years. There have been 3 pandemics in the past century—1918, 1956, and 1968. How do pandemics get started? Pandemics are caused by influenza A viruses that occur naturally in birds or swine. There are differences among the viruses, but the one thing all viruses have in common is that they constantly change. Three subtypes of flu virus are currently common in people (H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2). When a virus changes into a subtype that humans are not use to, a pandemic may occur. (Link to how a virus changes). Can seasonal flu become a pandemic flu? No. Many people’s bodies can protect them from seasonal flu viruses and vaccine can be developed to help prevent illness from flu strains that appear each year. People have never had the strain of flu that causes a pandemic, so they have very little or no defense against it. When will you know that there is a pandemic? When the following 4 conditions are met, there is likely to be a sudden, widespread outbreak: · The virus shows it can cause disease in people. · The virus is new to humans. · People have little or no protection against the new virus. · It spreads easily from person-to-person. What will happen if there is a pandemic? A pandemic flu will probably be worse than a normal flu season (link to seasonal flu), but we really don’t know how bad it will be. It is important to understand the possibility of widespread, serious illness in order to be prepared. How bad could it be? Many communities are likely to be affected. A pandemic may come in “waves.” Many people will get sick for 6 to 8 weeks, then there will be a period where only a few people are getting sick. Within a month or two, the cycle will happen again. This may occur 2 or 3 more times. There may be a high death rate. What are the possible challenges? Essential services the public depends on may not be available due to illness and fear. These services include, but are not limited to health care, restaurants and theaters, government services, telephone and cellular services, banks and post offices, grocery stores and gas stations. Food and water supplies may be interrupted and limited. Being able to work may be difficult or impossible (link to business pan flu page). Schools and pre-schools may be closed for an extended period of time, and medical care for people with chronic illness could be a problem. Can a pandemic be avoided? Health and government officials and scientists around the world are working together to identify conditions of a pandemic and slow the spread. If the right health actions are taken in both animals and humans to detect a pandemic strain and prevent its spread, the risk of a pandemic may be reduced. Is there a pandemic right now? No. Currently there is no pandemic flu anywhere in the world. Scientists and health officials are concerned because an avian influenza virus known as H5N1 (the “bird flu”) has infected a small number of people in Asia, Europe and Africa since 2004. For more information about the bird flu visit (Link to bird flu site). Can vaccines help? Knowledge of the exact strain of a virus is needed in order to produce vaccine that will protect against the pandemic virus. Getting the exact strain is very difficult because viruses constantly change. Once the strain is known, there will be a lag time before it can be made and distributed because of current vaccine production methods and capabilities. (Link to vaccine information.) Will antiviral medicine help? Antiviral medications are normally used to treat people who have just become sick with a virus. Some antiviral medicines may help in treating and preventing the spread of pandemic flu. It is unlikely that antiviral medications alone will stop the spread of pandemic flu. (Link to antiviral information page). Is food safe? Yes. As long as fowl (chicken, turkey and duck) meat, eggs and pork products are properly prepared and handled, and as long as they are thoroughly cooked, this food is safe. For more information about food safety visit: www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/. Will facemasks be helpful? Masks may help, but they are likely to be in short supply during a pandemic. Health care and laboratory workers will need to use masks when working with infected patients and specimens (link to universal precautions). The best thing you can do is wash your hands, practice good hygiene and cover your cough (link to hand washing, and cover you cough sites). Is it safe to handle dead birds or other animals? Avoid bare-hand contact when handling dead birds or other animals. (Link to dead bird website). What is Placer County doing to prepare for a pandemic? Placer County is devoting many resources to plan for, respond to and reduce the impact of a pandemic. For example, a pandemic influenza task force of many community leaders and partners has been meeting to plan and develop strategies to minimize both the spread of pandemic flu and its disruption. The task force has been communicating expectations and responsibilities to many partners, such as health care providers and emergency responders. In addition, Placer County Health and Human Services (HHS) is working to: teach health care professionals how to watch for the disease and, ensure rapid reporting of outbreaks, control outbreaks, if they happen. HHS is also preparing to continue essential public health services in the community, while at the same time deal with an outbreak and ensure timely, accurate information to the public about the status of pandemic in Placer County. Should you worry? No. But you should be prepared. Should you depend on the government to prevent a pandemic and protect you? No. County, state and federal governments, health officials and scientists around the world are doing everything they can to prevent and prepare for a pandemic, but they cannot do it alone. You should plan now to keep you and your family healthy and safe. What can you do? Stay healthy, practice good hand hygiene, and cover your cough. (Link to hand hygiene & cover Your cough). Get an annual flu shot (link to flu shot). This will help keep you healthy. Stay home if you are sick. Be prepared to follow health instructions from health authorities that may include avoiding large crowds and limiting travel that is not necessary. Keep food and supplies at home in case you need to stay there for several days or weeks, if necessary. Stay informed and develop a family emergency plan. Where can you get more information about being prepared? There are many sources. Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at: www.fema.ca.gov/areyouready/ or call 1-800-480-2520. Visit the office of Homeland Security at: www.ready.gov or call 1-800-be-ready, or 1-800-464-6161 (TDD), or visit the Official Government website at: www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/individuals.pdf.