Pandemic flu information centralized on website

The U.S. Department of Human Services has centralized information regarding pandemic flu at PandemicFlu.gov, a website packed with information to help prepare communities, organizations and families for a possible flu outbreak.

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily person-to-person, causes serious illness and can sweep across the country and around the world in very short time.

PandemicFlu.gov warns, “Health professionals are concerned that the continued spread of a highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus across eastern Asia and other countries represents a significant threat to human health. The H5N1 virus has raised concerns about a potential human pandemic because: It is especially virulent; it is being spread by migratory birds; it can be transmitted from birds to mammals and in some limited circumstances to humans; and like other influenza viruses, it continues to evolve.”

Employers that want to prepare themselves, their organizations and their families in case of a pandemic flu outbreak can find a wealth of information on the site. For example, click here for health and safety recommendations.