Flu Facts

Current Status

USM Stage 1: Low Alert

Planning

There are the three types of flu (influenza): avian, seasonal and pandemic.

Avian Flu

Avian flu is a bird illness caused by flu viruses found among birds. The H5N1 virus is currently circulating among wild and domestic birds in Asia, Africa and Europe. The bird flu is highly contagious and deadly among birds. As the infected wild birds migrate they are transporting the virus along the migratory routes. The wild birds then infect domestic poultry like chicken and turkey flocks. Humans contract the bird flu by direct contact with a sick or dead infected bird. If a human contracts the bird flu, illness is severe and the death rate is reportedly at 60%.

Seasonal Flu

Seasonal flu is the flu that circulates the globe annually, usually between December and May. Predictably between 5% and 20% of the US population become ill with influenza. The symptoms are rapid onset of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath and body aches. It can cause serious illness and deaths in the very young, the elderly and the chronically ill. Flu shots are recommended annually. The annual flu shot is tailored specifically to the circulating strain that year and serves to minimize symptoms if the flu is contracted.

Pandemic Flu

Pandemic flu is an outbreak of a new influenza strain that rapidly and easily spreads from human to human affecting persons around the globe causing severe illness. These outbreaks occur periodically and have occurred in 1918, 1957 and in 1968; the worst being in 1918. Public health experts are anticipating another pandemic influenza outbreak similar to the 1918 outbreak, generating possibly from a mutation of the H5N1 bird flu virus. The mutation that is dreaded is one that allows human-to-human transmission of the virus for which humans have no natural immunity, and for which there is currently no vaccine available. It is anticipated that this flu would be rapid in its spread among humans, there could be many deaths, and significant social and economic disruption.

For More Information

Maine CDC: State site for pan flu information and links
US Government: One stop access to US Government avian flu/pandemic influenza information.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- www.cdc.gov
- www.cdc.gov/flu/avian
World Health Organization (WHO)

State and Federal Plans

Other source for general information: www.fluwikie.com
National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Implementation Plan, Homeland Security Council
Maine Pandemic Influenza DRAFT Plan