Pandemic Influenza
Overview | Pandemic Flu Plan | FAQs | CDC Information
FAQs
General Questions:
When a Pandemic Begins:
Bird Flu:
General Questions:
Why is pandemic flu so serious? Because most or all people would not have immunity to a new pandemic virus, large numbers of people around the world could be infected. If the pandemic virus causes severe disease, many people may develop serious illnesses. Once a pandemic virus develops, it can spread rapidly causing outbreaks around the world. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that as much as 25% to 30% of the U.S. population could be affected.
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Can pandemic flu be prevented? The Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Health is working with federal, state, and other local government agencies to respond to pandemic influenza and to maintain essential health care and community services if an outbreak should occur. In fact, governments all around the world are preparing for the possibility of a pandemic outbreak under the leadership of the World Health Organization.
It is not possible to prevent or stop a pandemic once it begins. A person infected with influenza virus can be contagious for 24 hours before the onset of symptoms, and for seven days thereafter, making it extremely easy for the virus to spread rapidly to large numbers of people.
Although the federal government is stockpiling medical supplies and antiviral drugs, no country in the world has enough antiviral drugs to protect all their citizens. Antiviral drugs can be used to treat severe cases as long as there is a reasonable chance that the drugs might help save lives. Antiviral drugs might also be prioritized for people who work in essential occupations, such as healthcare workers.
Other strategies for slowing the spread of a severe influenza outbreak could include temporarily closing schools, sports arenas, theaters, restaurants, bars, and other public gathering places and facilities.
There currently is no vaccine to protect humans against a pandemic influenza virus because the pandemic virus has not yet fully developed. However, vaccine development efforts are under way to protect humans against a pandemic influenza virus that might develop from the current bird flu virus in Asia. (See information on bird flu below).
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When is pandemic influenza A expected? Influenza pandemics occur naturally. There were 3 pandemics in the 20th century. The pandemic of 1918-19 was the most severe pandemic on record, in which 50 million or more people around the world died, including approximately 650,000 Americans. It is not possible to predict accurately when influenza pandemics will occur or how severe they will be. However, the current outbreak of avian influenza in Asia has influenza experts concerned that a pandemic is developing that may be severe.
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Why does the current bird flu outbreak in Southeast Asia pose a risk of causing a pandemic influenza A outbreak in humans? New human influenza viruses arise from bird influenza viruses that then change to a form that can infect humans and spread readily from person to person. The current bird flu outbreak in Asia is caused by a type of influenza A virus called “H5N1.” The H5N1 outbreak among domestic chickens and ducks in Asia is widespread and uncontrolled. Human infections and deaths due to the avian H5N1 virus have occurred, although the virus has at this time not developed the ability to pass easily from person to person and cause outbreaks in humans. Human disease requires close, prolonged contact with sick chickens.
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What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans? The reported symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from typical influenza-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye infections (conjunctivitis), pneumonia, acute respiratory distress and other severe and life-threatening complications.
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If I feel like I have the flu, should I ask my doctor to perform a particular test to check for the bird flu virus? Only if you have recently returned from travel to an area where bird flu is present. Depending on your symptoms, dates of travel, and activities, additional testing might be recommended. Call your healthcare provider to let him/her know about your travel history and if you had contact with poultry or bird markets.
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What can the public do to reduce the risk of pandemic influenza?Stay informed. These web sites provide regularly updated information about bird flu and pandemic flu:
- Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services at www.HealthyArkansas.com. Look under “Hot Topics” for the pandemic flu plan for Arkansas.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/flu
- For information on the vaccine development process, visit the National Institutes of Health at www3.niaid.nih.gov
- The official U.S. government Web site for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza at www.pandemicflu/gov
Stop germs from spreading.
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when coughing and sneezing
- Wash your hands often. The key is to wash thoroughly with warm water, and to wash frequently.
- When hand washing is not possible, use an alcohol based hand cleaner
- Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes
- Have a good home disaster preparedness plan. See the “Individual and Families Checklist” at www.pandemicflu.gov.
If you plan to travel to Southeast Asia, check the CDC web site for travel advisories at www.cdc.gov/flu
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How is pandemic influenza spread? Pandemic influenza would be spread from person to person primarily through “respiratory secretions,” the same way seasonal influenza viruses and other common respiratory infections spread. Respiratory secretions are virus-containing droplets (such as spit or mucous) that are spread when infected people cough or sneeze. These droplets can then land on the surfaces of the mouth, nose, and throat of people who are near (i.e. within 3 feet) the ill person. The virus may also be spread through contact with the infectious respiratory secretions on the hands of an infected person and other objects and surfaces.
Adults can spread influenza virus one day before symptoms appear and up to seven days after the onset of illness.
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Will the regular (seasonal) flu shot provide any protection against the pandemic influenza virus? Probably not. But the regular flu shot will protect you against the influenza viruses that are circulating right now.
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When a Pandemic Begins:
What is the best way to protect myself from pandemic influenza?Begin now to practice simple but important habits that reduce the spread of germs:
- Stay home when you are sick
- Avoid close contact with ill persons.
- Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when coughing and sneezing
- Wash your hands often. The key is to wash thoroughly with warm water, and to wash frequently.
- When hand washing is not possible, use an alcohol based hand cleaner
- Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes
- Have a good home disaster prepareness plan. See the “Individual and Families Checklist” at www.pandemicflu.gov.
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Should I buy Tamiflu (oseltamivir) for my home? Tamiflu is a prescription antiviral drug that works against influenza viruses. It is not known if it will be useful against a pandemic influenza virus. Tamiflu is not recommended for people to keep at home in case of a pandemic.
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Will there be enough Tamiflu for everyone if there is a global pandemic influenza outbreak, and if not, who will get it? Although the federal government is stockpiling medical supplies and antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu, no country in the world has enough Tamiflu to protect all its citizens.
Public health officials have recommended using available supplies of Tamiflu first to treat persons with severe infections that require hospitalization, and persons that will perform vital functions that the public will need in a pandemic. These groups include healthcare workers and emergency responders.
Because the drug needs to be taken every day for weeks in order to prevent influenza infections and the supply is limited, Tamiflu is not recommended for this purpose during a pandemic.
Tamiflu is currently manufactured by one company in Switzerland. Government agencies and the manufacturer of Tamiflu are attempting to find ways to negotiate with generic drug companies to increase production of the medicine.
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Should I wear a mask at work to protect myself from pandemic influenza? Masks are recommended for use in health care settings by ill persons and healthcare workers to prevent spread of infection. At this time, masks are not recommended for use by well persons in the community. There is no guarantee that masks would prevent the spread of the infection in the population.
If people decide to wear masks during a pandemic influenza outbreak, it is likely they will need to wear them any time they are in a public place and when they are around other household members.
More information on the use of masks from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/
infectioncontrol/maskguidance.htm
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Do I need to disinfect surfaces that have been in contact with a person with influenza? Yes, wipe down any surfaces that may have been contaminated by saliva or other respiratory secretions.
Influenza viruses are known to survive on non-porous surfaces such as steel and plastic, for up to 24 to 48 hours after inoculation and from cloth, paper, and tissues for up to 8 to 12 hours. Viable virus can be transferred from non-porous surfaces to hands for 24 hours and from tissues to hands for 15 minutes.
Use a household disinfectant labeled for activity against bacteria and viruses, an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant, or mix and use¼ cup chlorine bleach with 1 gallon of cool water.
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Why does it take so long to develop a pandemic influenza vaccine? Vaccine production is a complicated and lengthy
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