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Pandemic and Influenza: A Guide to

Understanding

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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 lifethreatening complications.

Play video for additional inform

ation

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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

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Test Your Knowledge

True 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 washing

your hands, covering your mouth when
you sneeze or cough, avoid close
contact, 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 Knowledge

True 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 Knowledge

True 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 the

World Health Organization (WHO) alert
system.

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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