CDC Resources for Pandemic Flu
An influenza pandemic can occur when a non-human (novel) influenza virus gains the ability for efficient and sustained human-to-human transmission and then spreads globally. Influenza viruses that have the potential to cause a pandemic are referred to as ‘influenza viruses with pandemic potential.’
Examples of influenza viruses with pandemic potential include avian influenza A (H5N1) and avian influenza H7N9, which are two different “bird flu” viruses. These are non-human viruses (i.e., they are novel among humans and circulate in birds in parts of the world) so there is little to no immunity against these viruses among people. Human infections with these viruses have occurred rarely, but if either of these viruses was to change in such a way that it was able to infect humans easily and spread easily from person to person, an influenza pandemic could result.
CDC’s pandemic preparedness efforts include ongoing surveillance of human and animal influenza viruses, risk assessments of influenza viruses with pandemic potential, and the development and improvement of preparedness tools that can aid public health practitioners in the event of an influenza pandemic.
The links below offer more information about influenza pandemics and highlight some of CDC Influenza Division’s continued work on influenza pandemic preparedness.
CDC Influenza Division International Program works with a wide range of international partners, including the World Health Organization, national ministries of health and others to build capacity to respond to pandemics and to prevent and control seasonal influenza.
Risk Assessment
Risk assessments help assess the threat of influenza viruses with pandemic potential
Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Tools
Resources to help hospital administrators and state and local health officials prepare for the next influenza pandemic
Flu.gov
Resources to help businesses, communities, schools and other organizations plan for the next pandemic
Related Links
- Updated Preparedness and Response Framework for Influenza Pandemics. MMWR September 26, 2014 / 63(RR06);1-9
CDC has updated its framework to describe influenza pandemic progression using six intervals (two prepandemic and four pandemic intervals) and eight domains. This updated framework can be used for influenza pandemic planning and has been aligned with the pandemic phases restructured in 2013 by the World Health Organization. - CDC's World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Control of Influenza
- Page last reviewed: September 3, 2015
- Page last updated: October 20, 2015
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