|
This page provides answers to many of the most commonly asked questions on pandemic influenza.
Avian Influenza
What is avian influenza?
Are there human cases of avian influenza in the U.S.?
How about animal cases?
Can I get a flu vaccine for avian influenza?
Pandemic Influenza
What is pandemic influenza?
What is the difference between pandemic influenza and seasonal influenza?
Why are we concerned?
What can I do to prepare for pandemic influenza?
During a pandemic, what precautions can I take to avoid the spread of influenza?
What is San Diego doing to be prepared for pandemic influenza?
Website/Technical*
Can our Web site link to the San Diego Pandemic Flu (www.sdpandemicflu.org) site?
Would the San Diego Pandemic Flu Web site link to our company's Web site?
We are a private, commercial company (firm, corporation) and would like to have a San Diego Pandemic Flu site link to our Web site. How can we go about doing this?
How do I address problems/complaints/suggestions dealing with the San Diego Pandemic Flu Web site?
Would the San Diego Pandemic Flu Web site include a link to our non-profit program site?
How frequently is this website updated?
Avian Influenza
What is avian influenza?
Avian influenza (H5N1) - commonly called "bird flu" - is an infection caused by a highly pathogenic influenza virus that occurs naturally in birds. At this time, it is uncertain whether the H5N1 virus, currently circulating in birds, will lead to a global disease outbreak (pandemic) in humans.
Back to Top
Are there human cases of avian influenza in the U.S.?
There are currently no human cases of avian influenza in the U.S.
The World Health Organization provides current updates on the cumulative number of confirmed avian influenza (H5N1) cases.
San Diego is gathering local information through bird testing for avian influenza and monitoring information on the spread of this disease throughout the world. Local physicians have been asked to follow enhanced surveillance guidelines to screen for possible human cases of avian influenza in patients with severe flu and a recent history of travel to a country with avian influenza in birds. Read more on local prevention efforts, or surveillance for human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) in California.
Back to Top
How about animal cases?
There are currently no animal cases of H5N1 avian virus influenza in the U.S.
The San Diego County Veterinarian is performing avian influenza testing on all suspect birds that are submitted to the lab. The Office of the County Veterinarian offers additional information on avian influenza.
For the most up-to-date information on H5N1 virus in animals, visit the World Organization for Animal Health.
Back to Top
Can I get a flu vaccine for avian influenza?
At this time, vaccines are only available for the seasonal, or common, flu.
There currently is no commercially available vaccine to protect humans against the H5N1 virus that is being seen in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. However, vaccine development efforts are taking place. Research studies to test a vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005, and a series of clinical trials are underway. For more information about H5N1 vaccine development, visit PandemicFlu.gov’s Tests, Vaccines and Medications page.
Back to Top
Pandemic Influenza
What is 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.
Back to Top
What is the difference between pandemic influenza and seasonal influenza?
Seasonal outbreaks (epidemics) are caused by subtypes of influenza viruses that are already in existence among people, whereas pandemic outbreaks are caused by new subtypes or by subtypes that have never circulated (spread) among people or 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.
Back to Top
Why are we concerned?
We are concerned that the H5N1 virus could mutate and become readily transmissible from human-to-human and have a high death rate.
Back to Top
What can I do to prepare for pandemic influenza?
Currently there is no influenza pandemic, and globally we are in the pre-pandemic preparation phase. While the thought of a global disease outbreak may seem overwhelming, there are many things you can do to prepare for pandemic influenza and reduce your risk. Fortunately, these actions are similar to those recommended for any potential public health emergency and include the following steps:
- Get educated
- Protect your health
- Develop preparedness plans
Get educated. Read about pandemic influenza and avian influenza from official sources and pay attention to stories in the media. Local officials will work with the media to deliver important messages to the public about any local health issues.
Protect your health. To defend yourself against illness, implement the following practices:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as much as possible;
- Stay away from people who are sick;
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing; and
- Get regular exercise, enough rest and eat healthy, balanced meals.
The CDC offers additional information on Stopping the Spread of Germs at Home, Work & School.
Develop preparedness plans. According to the federal government, "A pandemic is likely to be a prolonged and widespread outbreak that could require temporary changes in many areas of society, such as schools, work, transportation, and other public services. An informed and prepared public can take appropriate actions to decrease their risk during a pandemic." (Source: PandemicFlu.gov)
Back to Top
During a pandemic, what precautions can I take to avoid the spread of influenza?
The same measures outlined above (get educated, protect your health, and develop preparedness plans) are the same as those necessary to prevent its spread. As with other infectious illnesses, one of the most important preventive practices is proper and frequent hand washing. Cleaning your hands often, especially after sneezing or coughing, using soap and water, or applying waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizer removes potentially infectious materials from your skin and helps prevent the spread of diseases.
Back to Top What is San Diego doing to be prepared for pandemic influenza?
HHSA is actively preparing for a pandemic influenza. For details on local preparedness activities, visit the Local Preparedness page.
For more information about pandemic influenza, send us an email or phone (888) 633-1330. Back to Top
Website/Technical
Can our Web site link to the San Diego Pandemic Flu (www.sdpandemicflu.org) site?
In general, yes. The San Diego Pandemic Flu Web site is a government-sponsored site managed by the County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). As such, it is a County Web site and is made available to everyone freely and without cost to the public. Organizations, agencies, groups, and companies may feel free to include links to the San Diego Pandemic Flu site and without the need to contact HHSA. This permission applies only to the Pandemic Flu pages using the sdpandemicflu.org domain name. Back to Top
Would the San Diego Pandemic Flu Web site link to our company's Web site? We are a private, commercial company (firm, corporation) and would like to have a San Diego Pandemic Flu site link to our Web site. How can we go about doing this?
In general, yes. The San Diego Pandemic Flu Web site is a government-sponsored site managed by the County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). As such, it is a County Web site and is made available to everyone freely and without cost to the public. Organizations, agencies, groups, and companies may feel free to include links to the San Diego Pandemic Flu site and without the need to contact HHSA. This permission applies only to the Pandemic Flu pages using the sdpandemicflu.org domain name.
The County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, which manages this site, is limited in its ability to offer links from the San Diego Pandemic Flu Web site to those of private corporations, particularly if it creates the appearance of endorsing a particular product. Therefore, we are unable to provide a link to a company Web site from the San Diego Pandemic Flu Web sites.
We appreciate your willingness to assist us in leading our community to better health, safety, and well-being.
Back to Top
How do I address problems/complaints/suggestions dealing with the San Diego Pandemic Flu Web site?
To submit feedback about this site, you may email us, or call (888) 633-1330. Back to Top
Would the San Diego Pandemic Flu Web site include a link to our non-profit program site?
In general, the San Diego Pandemic Flu site provides links to other Federal, state, international, and local government Web sites. We may also provide links on a case-by-case basis to private, nonprofit organizations who partner with the Federal, state, international or local government on certain projects or programs. You may also notice some links to Web sites in the dot-org, dot-com, or dot-net domains. Our links are based on the sponsor of the site, not on the domain in which it is registered. Back to Top
How frequently is this website updated?
The San Diego Pandemic Flu Web site is updated on an as-needed basis. Sometimes changes are needed hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly depending upon the content.
To learn when a specific page was last revised, check the date found in the bottom left of each page where you see the phrase "Last revised:". Back to Top
|
