Butte County Public Health

Pandemic Influenza

An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears or “emerges” in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide. Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks or “epidemics” of influenza. Seasonal outbreaks are caused by subtypes of influenza viruses that already circulate among people, whereas pandemic outbreaks are caused by new subtypes, by subtypes that have never circulated among people, or by subtypes that have not circulated among people for a long time. Past influenza pandemics have led to high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss.

Due to the recent spread of H5N1 avian influenza among wild birds and poultry in Western Europe and parts of Africa, experts are concerned that the world may be on the verge of the next influenza pandemic. No one knows for sure whether H5N1 avian influenza will become easily transmissible from human-to-human, or if it will cause the next influenza pandemic. But scientists and government officials believe it could pose a serious threat to our health, our economy, and our way of life. It’s something that we all need to take seriously and plan for. You can prepare in several ways:

Preparedness Links

Disaster Supplies Kit

Pandemic Planning Checklist - Individuals and Families document type Adobe Acrobat PDF format

Your Family Disaster Plan document type Adobe Acrobat PDF format

Pandemic Flu Links

Centers for Disease Control

PandemicFlu.gov

World Health Organization