PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Pandemic Influenza General Information
Pandemic flu is a virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person (source: pandemicflu.gov).

Health professionals are concerned that the continued spread of a highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus across eastern Asia and other countries represents a significant threat to human health. The H5N1 virus has raised concerns about a potential human pandemic because:

1. It is especially virulent
2. It is being spread by migratory birds
3. It can be transmitted from birds to mammals and in some limited circumstances to humans, and
4. Like other influenza viruses, it continues to evolve. (Source: Pandemicflu.gov)

There have been a growing number of human H5N1 cases reported all over the world. More than half of the people infected with the H5N1 virus have died and these cases are believed to or have been caused by exposure to infected poultry.

There has been no evidence of continuous human-to-human transmission of the disease, but there is concern that H5N1 may evolve into a virus that may be capable of human-to-human transmission.