Pandemic Flu Facts

A pandemic occurs when a disease spreads rapidly, affecting most countries and regions of the world. Influenza pandemics have occurred periodically throughout human history – including a major pandemic in 1918 and smaller pandemics in 1957 and 1968. The symptoms of pandemic influenza are similar to those of ordinary flu but are usually more severe.

Flu viruses are constantly changing, producing new strains. Influenza pandemics occur when a virus emerges that is so different from previous strains that few, if any, people have any immunity to it. This allows the virus to spread widely and rapidly, potentially affecting millions of people worldwide. The new virus may be the result of an animal virus, usually from a bird, mixing with a human virus to produce a new strain.

Ordinary Flu

• Occurs every year during the winter.
• Affects up to about 10 percent of the population
• For most people it is an unpleasant, but not life-threatening, infection
• The very young, the very old and people with certain chronic illnesses are most at risk of serious illness
• Annual vaccines are available
• Antiviral drugs are available to treat those at special risk

Pandemic Flu

• Has occurred three times in the last 90 years
• Can occur at any time of the year
• Is a more serious infection for everyone
• People of every age may be at risk for serious illness
• A vaccine probably won’t be available when the pandemic starts and when it does become available, the aim will be to immunize people as rapidly as possible
• Antiviral drug supplies are likely to be in limited and will have to be used to best effect according to how the disease develops

Vaccine against ordinary flu will not protect against pandemic flu. However, getting your annual flu shot is one way to keep yourself healthy and that may help you fight off a pandemic virus.

Three pandemics have occurred in the last 90 years, in 1918, 1957 and 1968. Scientists predict that another pandemic will happen, although they cannot say exactly when.

Pandemics and Pandemic Scares in the 20th Century

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has compiled a summary of pandemics and pandemic scares that have occurred in the last 100 years.

The World Health Organization, CDC and the Kentucky Department for Public Health are watching for the first signs of an emerging pandemic.

In 1918, pandemic influenza spread across the country in less than a month. Now, in the era of international air travel, a pandemic will probably spread even faster. As a result:

• Many people will get sick with the flu.
• Health services will be in great demand.
• Many aspects of daily life will be disrupted.
• Many people will die.

Kentucky is working with many different collaborators and partners to prepare for a possible pandemic.

You are more likely to catch pandemic flu than ordinary flu because it spreads rapidly and very few people will have any immunity to it. Everyone will be at risk. Some groups of people may be more at risk than others, but every pandemic is different. So, until the virus starts spreading it is very difficult to predict which populations will be at greatest risk. With ordinary flu the groups of people more likely to become seriously ill include:

• The very young
• People older than 65
• People with existing medical conditions such as lung diseases, diabetes, cancer, kidney or heart problems
• People with weakened immune systems from certain medical treatments, or illnesses like HIV/AIDS

The groups most likely to become ill will probably be different during a pandemic.

The World Health Organization has an international system in place for tracking the emergence of a new pandemic. The federal Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Kentucky Department for Public Health will also monitor emerging situations.

If it looks like a pandemic is going to reach the U.S., the government will issue warnings and work with the media to advise people on the best course of action. If it looks likely that a pandemic will reach Kentucky, health officials will use the media and this Web site to advise people on what they should do.

Ten Things You Need to Know About Pandemic Influenza

World Health Organization overview of possible effects of influenza pandemic.