Pandemic Influenza¹

The word pandemic is used to describe a disease that affects people on a worldwide scale. Pandemic influenza have occurred roughly every 20 to 30 years throughout history, the most serious being the misnamed "Spanish flu" of 1918, the "Asian flu" of 1957 and the "Hong Kong flu" of 1968.

Three conditions must be met to result in a pandemic influenza:

1. The emergence of a new influenza strain
2. The ability of that strain to infect humans and cause serious illness
3. The ability to spread easily among humans

H5N1 avian influenza is the most concerned virus at present that has the chance to trigger pandemic influenza.

Most experts agree that the question is not if another pandemic influenza will occur, but when. But while some scientists worry that the current situation indicates a looming pandemic, others doubt that there is any immediate danger. Regardless of whether a pandemic occurs in the next year or the next 50 years, however, the consensus among public health officials is that we should prepare ourselves for this eventuality now. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a comprehensive pandemic planning guide that is updated regularly. Find it at www.pandemicflu.gov.

Reference:
1.	Stimola AN. Avian Influenza, or "Bird Flu" What You Need to Know. New York, NY: America Council of Science and Health; 2006.