Ian
priscilla 1Flu Pandemics
May 20th 2009 10:17
An influenza pandemic is an epidemic of an influenza virus that spreads on a worldwide scale and infects a large proportion of the human population. In contrast to the regular seasonal epidemics of influenza, these pandemics occur irregularly, with the 1918 Spanish flu the most serious pandemic in recent history. Pandemics can cause high levels of mortality, with the Spanish influenza estimated as being responsible for the deaths of over 50 million people. There have been about three influenza pandemics in each century for the last 300 years. The most recent ones were the Asian Flu in 1957 and the Hong Kong Flu in 1968.
Influenza pandemics occur when a new strain of the influenza virus is transmitted to humans from another animal species. Species that are thought to be important in the emergence of new human strains are pigs, chickens and ducks. These novel strains are unaffected by any immunity people may have to older strains of human influenza and can therefore spread extremely rapidly and infect very large numbers of people.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that there is a substantial risk of an influenza pandemic within the next few years.
There is current concern that the spread of a new strain of H1N1 influenza, also known as "swine flu", might develop into a pandemic.
The image below graphically demonstrates recent flu pandemics and their effects on world population.
Influenza pandemics occur when a new strain of the influenza virus is transmitted to humans from another animal species. Species that are thought to be important in the emergence of new human strains are pigs, chickens and ducks. These novel strains are unaffected by any immunity people may have to older strains of human influenza and can therefore spread extremely rapidly and infect very large numbers of people.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that there is a substantial risk of an influenza pandemic within the next few years.
There is current concern that the spread of a new strain of H1N1 influenza, also known as "swine flu", might develop into a pandemic.
The image below graphically demonstrates recent flu pandemics and their effects on world population.
Click on the image to view the full version
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Health policy also better than 1918, widespread transmission can be minimalized.