Frequently asked questions about the flu pandemic

[Snowy Owl]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frequently asked questions about the flu pandemic
http://www.cibolabeacon.com/articles/2006/10/19/news/news9.txt
[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"Listening to Communities" is a project designed to help communities address the threat of a global outbreak of influenza and its potential effects.[/FONT]
​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Public meetings will be scheduled throughout Cibola County during November. [/FONT]
​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Until then, here are some frequently asked questions:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: What is an influenza pandemic?

[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A: A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza 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.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: What's the difference between pandemic influenza and the ?flu? people get every year?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
A: The seasonal flu is caused by a strain of influenza virus that changes slightly every year. Because the virus has been circulating in the human population for many years, most people have at least some immunity to it. Influenza pandemics occur when a new strain of the influenza virus spreads globally and no one is immune to it.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: Is an influenza pandemic really going to happen, or is this all just hype?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
A: Most experts agree that a pandemic is inevitable and many believe it is imminent. Right now, the most likely candidate appears to be H5N1, the ?bird flu? virus currently circulating in Asia.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: Can we stop a pandemic from occurring?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
A: No. Vaccinating and culling birds, imposing travel restrictions and other actions may delay or slow the spread of pandemic disease. But the reality of a coming pandemic cannot be avoided.
[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Only its impact can be lessened.[/FONT]
​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: What would be the impact of a pandemic?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
A: Even a "mild" pandemic could kill many millions of people. The Centers for Disease Control predicts that during a "medium-level epidemic" up to 207,000 Americans would die, 734,000 would be hospitalized, and about a third of the U.S. population would fall ill. Assuming a mortality rate of 20 percent and 80 million illnesses, 16 million Americans could die. Globally, the mortality rate would be much higher.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: What about our communities?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
Because more than one-third of the world's population could be sick, many people will not be at work. Trucks and planes will slow down. Many systems will not work. Supplies of daily items that are now imported from other countries (including medicines, fuel, clothing, toys and electronics) would be sold out. Shortages will affect everyone.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: Who is most susceptible?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A: Usually seasonal influenza is most dangerous for the very young, the very old, and those with compromised immune systems. But in pandemic influenza, people with the strongest immune systems are the must vulnerable. More than half of the people killed in the 1918-1919 pandemic were 18 to 40 years old and generally healthy. Pregnant women were also extremely vulnerable. This occurs because of a virus-induced response of the victim's immune system called a cytokine storm. The person's immune system attempts to fight the disease and in doing so severely damages the lungs, resulting in a condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: Will a flu shot protect me?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
A: A flu shot will not protect you from a new strain of influenza (the pandemic). However, it's a good idea to get a yearly flu shot, because it will help to reduce the risk that you'll be infected with both strains of influenza at the same time.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: Is there a vaccine for this new form of influenza?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
A: No. Because vaccines need to ?match? the virus, a vaccine cannot be developed until the virus develops a form that allows it to pass rapidly from human to human. Scientists estimate that it would take at least six to nine months to develop a vaccine, maybe longer, and even after a vaccine is developed, it's likely to be in short supply.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: What about antiviral medications?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
A: There's no clinical evidence that current antiviral medications, including Tamiflu, are effective against H5N1 strains of avian influenza.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: What can I do to protect myself?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
A: Get a pneumonia shot, and a flu shot, and learn about good hygiene measures. In the 1957-58 and 1968-69 pandemics, the primary cause of death was secondary bacterial pneumonias that infected lungs weakened by influenza. Although such bacterial infections can often be treated by antibiotics, these drugs would be either unavailable or in short supply for much of the global population during a pandemic.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: What can I do to prepare?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
A: Build up supplies of the things you use daily, weekly, monthly, including any medications. Public health experts recommend that people practice ?social isolation,? which means being ready to stay home for several weeks during each wave of pandemic illness. Some periods of isolation could last as long as three months at a time. Stock up on enough food to feed each person in your household for about three months.

[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Choose foods that will last: rice, beans, canned and dried meat, fish, fruit and juice. Ask your doctor about getting a supply of any medications you take regularly.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: What if someone in my household gets sick?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
A: Be prepared to care for people in the home. Health-care systems are likely to be overwhelmed. Stock up on over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil).
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Purchase a supply of personal protective equipment, including N95 masks, surgical masks, rubber gloves, and goggles. For more information about caring for any flu patient at home, "Listening to Communities" will provide a "Guide to Home Care" at local meetings.

[/FONT]

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: Frequently asked questions about the flu pandemic

Since this report seems quite accurate, does any of the Team can get an hold on the Brochure from [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"Listening to Communities" entotled "Guide to Home Care" available at local meetings in [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Cibola County.
[/FONT]