|
Public Health Solutions
District Health Department
995 East Hwy 33, Ste 1
Crete, NE 68333-2562
888.310.0565
Webmail »
|
Pandemic Flu
An influenza (flu) "pandemic" occurs when a new flu virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spread easily from person-to-person, causes serious illness, and can sweep across the country and around the world in a very short time (CDC).
H1N1 - Swine Flu
The swine flu (H1N1) virus continues to affect people worldwide (2009). Health officials became concerned that it could become a more serious pandemic because of lack of immunity to the virus in the general population, and because of concerns that it may mutate into a strain that causes more serious and widespread health effects. Currently, the virus spreads easily from person-to-person but is usually mild compared to seasonal influenza. People with underlying health conditions and pregnant women appear to be the most at risk for more serious health effects from H1N1 infection.
H5N1 - Bird Flu, Avian Influenza
The bird flu (H5N1) virus affected hundreds of thousands of birds worldwide, and more than a hundred humans in 2008. Health officials became concerned that it could become a pandemic flu strain because of the lack of immunity to the virus in the general population. Currently, the virus still does not spread easily from bird-to-person or person-to-person, but influenza viruses can mutate as they circulate in and between human and animal populations.
|
