C E N T R A L P I E D M O N T C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E

Pandemic and Influenza: A Guide to Understanding

C E N T R A L P I E D M O N T C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E

Purpose

The purpose of this guide is to help CPCC employees and students understand the differences between seasonal flu, avian flu, and pandemic flu.

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Seasonal Flu

• The flu is a contagious, respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

• It can cause mild to severe illness and at times, can lead to death.

• The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.

• Peak flu season is November through March.

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Flu Symptoms

• Extreme Tiredness• Fever (Usually High)• Headache• Muscle Aches/Pains• Runny/Stuffy Nose• Sore Throat• Dry Cough• Stomach symptoms such as

nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can also occur but are more common in children than adults.

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How Flu Spreads

• Coughing• Sneezing• Touching something

infected with flu viruses, then touching your mouth or nose

• Adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop

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Prevention• Stop the spread of germs• Get a flu vaccination• Avoid close contact• Stay home when sick• Cover your mouth and

nose• Wash your hands• Avoid touching eyes,

nose, and mouth

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What is Avian Influenza?

• Commonly known as bird flu

• Bird flu is an infection caused by viruses

• Occurs naturally among birds

• Can be very contagious among domestic poultry (chickens, ducks, turkeys, etc.)

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Does Bird Flu Affect Humans? • It does not usually infect humans,

but a number of confirmed cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred.

• One virus strain known as avian influenza A (H5N1) has been of particular concern in recent years.

• Most cases of H5N1 infection in humans have resulted from direct or close contact with infected poultry.

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Where Is Bird Flu Found?• H5N1 virus has infected humans in parts of

Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Near East• No human cases of avian influenza have been

identified in the United States and, to date, no Americans have been infected abroad.

Play video for additional information

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What Are the Symptoms?

• People infected with the current strand of the avian virus (H5N1) have shown everything from typical human influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, and other life-threatening complications.

Play video for additional information

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What Precautions Should I Take When Traveling to Areas Affected by H5N1?

• Avoid contact with live birds, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese.

• If preparing poultry, cook it well done before eating.

• Wash hands with soap and water after any poultry contact.

• Avoid poultry products from areas of infected birds.

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CDC Travel Recommendations• The U.S. Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention currently advise that travelers to countries with known outbreaks of influenza A (H5N1) avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from poultry or other animals.

• For more information about travel

recommendations, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Website

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What is a Pandemic?

• A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population, begins to cause serious illness, and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide.

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How Does a Pandemic Occur?

• New influenza viruses emerge as a result of a process called antigenic shift, which causes a sudden and major change in influenza A viruses.

• Changes result in a new influenza A virus subtype that can infect humans and spread easily from person to person.

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Will a Pandemic Occur?• Many scientists believe it is

a matter of time until the next influenza pandemic occurs. However, the timing and severity of the next pandemic cannot be predicted.

• Influenza pandemics occurred three times in the past century: in 1918-19, 1957-58, and 1968-69. 

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Will H5N1 Cause the Next Pandemic?

• Scientists cannot predict whether an avian influenza (H5N1) virus will cause a pandemic.

• Today, H5N1 is a bird flu. • As it mutates, it is possible the virus

could become capable of passing human to human and then spread very quickly. Play video for additional information

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What Are Pandemic Alert Phases?

• The World Health Organization (WHO) developed an alert system to help inform the world about the seriousness of a pandemic.

• The alert system has six phases

• The world is presently in Phase 3 of the Pandemic Alert.

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WHO Pandemic Alert Phases

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For More Information,Log On To….

CPCC Pandemic Preparedness

For More Information,

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Test Your KnowledgeTrue or False

1. Influenza is caused by a virus. T or F

2. The best way to prevent the flu is by not getting a flu vaccination each year. T or F

3. Peak flu season is November – March. T or F

4. Stop the spread of germs by washingyour hands, covering your mouth whenyou sneeze or cough, avoid closecontact, etc. T or F

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Answers

1. Influenza is caused by a virus. True!

2. The best way to prevent the flu is by not getting a flu vaccination each year. False! (get a flu vaccination.)

3. Peak flu season is November – March. True!

4. Stop the spread of germs by washing your hands, covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough, avoid close contact, etc. True!

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Test Your KnowledgeTrue or False

4. Avian influenza is the same as bird flu. T or F

5. There have been 10 cases of human bird flu infection reported in the United States.

T or F

6. The CDC recommends eating poultry from areas with infected birds. T or F

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Answers

4. Avian influenza is the same as bird flu. True!

5. Ten cases of human bird flu infection have been reported in the United States. False! (There have been no documented cases of humans infected with bird flu in the United States.)

6. The CDC recommends eating poultry from areas with infected birds. False! (Avoid eating poultry from infected areas.)

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Test Your KnowledgeTrue or False

7. A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. T or F

8. Today, H5N1 is a bird flu. T or F

9. The last pandemic occurred in 1918. T or F

10.The world is currently in Phase 5 of theWorld Health Organization (WHO) alertsystem. T or F

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Answers

7. A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. True!

8. Today, H5N1 is a bird flu. True!

9. The last pandemic occurred in 1918. False! (1968-69)

10. The world is currently in Phase 5 of the World Health Organization alert system. False! (Phase 3)

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