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Preparing for pandemic influenza: What is pandemic influenza
Influenza is a viral illness that infects the respiratory system, including the lungs. It spreads easily from person to person. To prepare for each flu season, manufacturers develop a vaccine that provides some protection against influenza viruses we see every year, known as seasonal flu. Still, seasonal flu results in thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States each year. A worldwide outbreak of influenza, called a pandemic, can occur when a new influenza virus emerges. People would have little or no immunity, and a vaccine would not be available for some time. Influenza pandemics have occurred three times in the past 100 years: 1918, 1957 and 1968. During the 1918 pandemic, more than 20 million people died worldwide with 500,000 deaths in the United States and 1,600 deaths in Seattle. Currently, avian influenza – or bird flu – is a big concern. Although avian influenza primarily infects birds, it can be passed to humans through direct and extended contact, such as handling an infected bird. The virus does not spread easily between people, although that could change. If that happens, it could lead to a pandemic. There have been avian influenza outbreaks in domesticated birds in parts of Asia and Europe, and cases of humans infected through close contact with infected birds. So far, no people have been infected with avian influenza in the United States. One way or another, everyone would be affected by a massive influenza outbreak. Pandemic influenza could kill hundreds of thousands of Americans – possibly more than 40,000 Washingtonians. Emergency response resources could be overwhelmed as pandemic influenza spreads across the state and the country. Up to 35 percent of the population could require special medical care.
Limiting death and illness will require a coordinated effort
involving international, federal, state and local agencies. In
Washington, the Department of Health is working closely with federal
agencies, various state agencies, local health officials and others
to prepare for the worst. Next page: Planning challenges Back to: Table of contents |
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