Pandemic Flu Frequently Asked Questions

What is influenza?
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by an influenza virus. It can cause mild to severe illness and, at times, lead to death. Every year in the United States, an average of five to 20 percent of the population gets the flu. Some influenza viruses can also infect birds, pigs, horses, seals, whales and other animals.

Where does pandemic flu come from?
Viruses are constantly changing, producing new strains. A new pandemic virus may be the result of viruses exchanged between animals and humans that produce a new strain. This is why avian (bird) flu is such a concern even though there has been no sustained human to human transmission. Pandemics occur when a new strain is so different from previous strains that few people, if any, are immune to it. This allows the new strain to spread widely and rapidly, affecting many hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.

What is the difference between seasonal flu and pandemic flu?
The seasonal flu is caused by a flu virus already circulating in the human population. A pandemic flu will be caused by a flu virus that has not circulated among people. Seasonal flu occurs at about the same time every year, beginning in December and ending in March. Most people who get seasonal flu recover within a week or two and do not require medical treatment. The very young, the very old and the very sick are most likely to become seriously ill from seasonal flu. Pandemic flu is more serious than a “typical” flu. It is caused by a new flu strain that humans have not been exposed to, so they have no natural resistance or immunity to it. Pandemic flu is different from seasonal flu because it infects large numbers of people of different ages all over the world and causes serious illness and deaths. During a pandemic people are more likely to get the flu and it is more likely to be deadly, even among young and healthy people.

What are the symptoms of pandemic flu?
The symptoms of pandemic flu are likely to be similar to the seasonal flu virus. For example, sudden onset of high temperature, muscle aches and pains, extreme tiredness, cough, sore throat and stuffy or runny nose. It may take two to seven days to show symptoms when a person catches the flu and the symptoms may last for up to a week. A person infected with the flu can usually transmit the flu one to two days before they have symptoms and four to five days after symptoms start.

 

Update Your Family Disaster Plan

Should I keep extra food and water in my home?
Stocking extra food, water and supplies at home will reduce the need to go out during a local flu pandemic, thereby reducing the potential for exposure to the virus. If a person does get sick and has extra supplies on hand, he or she will help reduce the spread of pandemic flu by staying home.

Can I do something ahead of time to keep my household safe?
Learn the signs of flu and decide when to limit contact with others. Learn how to keep track of the symptoms and make yourself or the person in your care comfortable. Learn how to determine when medical attention is needed.

Will I be expected to shelter-in-place?
Shelter-in-place is a short term action to protect you from exposure to hazardous materials, like a chemical gas. Sheltering-in-place won’t protect you and your household from pandemic flu because pandemic flu is passed from person to person. You may be asked to stay at home or limit contact with others to help prevent the spread of the flu.

What should I do to protect myself and those I care about?
The best way to protect yourself and others is to practice healthy hygiene to keep you well during a flu pandemic. Beginning these actions now will make them easier to do later. These actions include washing your hands, covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough and staying home when you are sick to slow the spread of a pandemic. Knowing that the flu is spread through contaminated droplets that exit the mouth and nose during coughing or sneezing can help make the difference between staying healthy and getting sick. Acting responsibly to prevent the spread of germs during a flu pandemic will help you protect yourself and those you care about.