Influenza pandemic
hideAn 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. Influenza A viruses can occasionally be transmitted from wild birds to other species causing outbreaks in domestic poultry and may give rise to human influenza pandemics.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns[when?] that there is a substantial risk of an influenza pandemic within the next few years[when?]. One of the strongest candidates is a highly pathogenic variation of the H5N1 subtype of Influenza A virus. As of 2006, prepandemic influenza vaccines are being developed against the most likely suspects which include H5N1, H7N1, and H9N2. Certain scholars and senior policy advisors argue that pandemic influenza represents a substantive threat to the international economy, to each nation's national security, and a challenge to international governance.
On 11 June 2009, a new strain of H1N1 influenza was declared to be a global pandemic (Stage 6) by the World Health Organization after evidence of spreading in the southern hemisphere.
For more information about Influenza pandemic, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
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News tagged with flu epidemic
CDC: Swine flu has sickened 22 million in 6 months
Nov 12, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Government health officials say swine flu has sickened about 22 million Americans since April.
Scientists track swine flu virus for tiny changes that would cause big problems
Nov 04, 2009 |
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As the H1N1 flu virus spreads at breakneck speed, a team of scientists are close behind. They are watching its evolution through a cutting-edge technology in hopes of answering the question: Where did it come from -- and ...
Tamiflu Metabolite Found in Sewage Discharge, River Water
Oct 01, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- In a study published September 28th ahead of print in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers measured oseltamivir carboxylate (OC), the active metabolite of the popular anti-i ...
Taiwan scientists unveil new weapon in swine flu fight
Jul 21, 2009 |
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Taiwanese scientists said Tuesday they had developed an organic compound which could help control the global swine flu epidemic as the worldwide death toll from the disease passed 700.
Deaths linked to swine flu hit 108 worldwide
May 28, 2009 |
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(AP) -- A fourth person in Arizona and six more in Mexico have died from complications of swine flu - pushing the world's death toll to 108.
Researchers track public reaction to flu outbreak
May 27, 2009 |
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As two Stanford University researchers described their experience watching public reactions in the initial days of the H1N1 flu outbreak, it sounded like one of those nature films in which tiny fish dart back and forth in ...
Study indicates people by nature are universally optimistic
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
May 24, 2009 |
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Despite calamities from economic recessions, wars and famine to a flu epidemic afflicting the Earth, a new study from the University of Kansas and Gallup indicates that humans are by nature optimistic.
Scientists investigate Mexican town's flu mystery
May 21, 2009 |
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(AP) -- No one has identified ground zero in the swine flu epidemic. Just where or when the new strain of influenza first jumped from a pig and began infecting people is a scientific mystery - one that a ...
WHO eyes swine flu transmision rates, new vaccine
May 17, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Health experts are looking very closely at the spread of swine flu among people in Spain, Britain and Japan, a WHO official said Sunday as Japan reported a one-day explosion of over 70 new cases, ...
Influenza pandemic planning needed to assure adequate care for pregnant women and newborns
May 13, 2009 |
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Pregnant women and newborns are at greatest risk in a flu epidemic, but more planning must be done to ensure that they receive priority treatment should an outbreak occur, according to a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center ...
As swine flu spreads, who should get Tamiflu?
May 12, 2009 |
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(AP) -- The swine flu epidemic may seem mild now, with relatively few deaths even as the virus infects thousands in at least 33 countries. But experts worry it could mutate into something more dangerous - ...
Experts: Mild swine flu could quickly turn deadly
May 05, 2009 |
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(AP) -- A flu virus is a powerhouse of evolution, mutating at the maximum speed nature allows. A mild virus can morph into a killer and vice versa.
How will the uninsured fare in swine flu outbreak?
May 04, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Swine flu could shine a glaring light on the best and worst about American-style health care.
New swine flu cases in Europe, US, Latin America
May 03, 2009 |
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(AP) -- The swine flu epidemic spread deeper into the United States, Europe and Latin America - and in Canada, back to pigs - even as Mexico's health chief hinted Sunday it may soon be time to reopen businesses ...
Health experts gauge flu outbreak
May 03, 2009 |
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(AP) -- As the number of swine flu cases in Mexico wanes and rises, experts are being forced to walk a public health tightrope - if they push their message too far and the virus fizzles out, they could lose ...
