Avian Flu – Influenza A virus H5N1 is called avian or bird flu. It occurs naturally in poultry and other birds. A mutation or subtype with sustained, efficient transmission from human to human has not yet been identified.
Pandemic Flu – if the bird flu virus mutates into a form or subtype with sustained, efficient transmission from person-to-person and spreads around the globe in unpredictable patterns, it will be considered a human flu pandemic.
Social Distancing – the practice of avoiding or limiting person-to-person contact by closing public gatherings and curtailing non-critical travel. This could include closing schools, libraries, churches, community centers and other public places.
Isolation – a public health practice designed to limit the spread of infection by keeping people who are sick away from people who are not. Isolation allows for the focused delivery of care to people who are ill and may be voluntary or mandatory.
Quarantine – a practice designed to stop the spread of infection by keeping people who have been exposed to a contagious disease but are not yet sick away from other people.
Shelter in Place – stay where you are, whether it becomes necessary to stay home, stay in the office, or seek temporary shelter elsewhere until the most immediate emergency has passed.
Anti-Viral Medications – The bird flu virus that has caused human illness and death appears to be resistant to the two anti-viral medications used to treat seasonal flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control, two other anti-virals would work against H5N1, but additional studies are needed.
Vaccinations – According to the Centers for Disease Control, because the pandemic has not yet developed, an H5N1 vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent infection is being held in stockpiles.
CDC Travel Health Precaution – take additional, recommended steps to avoid exposure to disease while traveling in specific areas.
CDC Travel Health Warning – risk of disease is high; postpone non-essential travel to specific areas.
Threat Level: The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks the current threat level for human contagion at 3, meaning there is “no or very limited human-to-human transmission.” (read more from WHO)
Travel Warnings: The Centers for Disease Control report that there are currently no travel health warnings or precautions in effect associated with avian flu (read more from CDC). However, if you have recently traveled to or from a country were avian flu is present and are experiencing any of the symptoms of flu, such as headache, fever, muscle aches, respiratory difficulties, contact your healthcare provider.
Use the following links to go directly to a topic of interest on this site or scroll down to read the full text:
Overview
Pandemic Flu
Seasonal Flu Spread and Symptoms
Seasonal Flu Prevention and Care
History of Pandemics
Western’s Plan
Your Personal Plan
Pandemic Flu Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Overview
Avian flu is a viral disease which occurs naturally among poultry and other birds. In 1997, it was determined that the disease had spread to several people in Hong Kong. While the spread to humans is rare, limited and unsustained, in Asia avian flu has infected about 100 people and killed about 50 who had been in direct contact with contaminated birds.
No cases of avian flu have been found in the United States, and no sustained human-to-human transmission has been documented; however scientists are concerned that the virus could eventually mutate into a highly communicable strain and cause widespread, sustained transmission among humans. Though it is not certain that this will ever happen, authorities are preparing for the possibility.
Pandemic Flu
Avian flu or some new form of the virus would be considered a pandemic if it begins to spread rapidly among humans around the globe with no predictable pattern or seasonal preference. It is feared that this new form of the virus, for which there is little or no human immunity, would cause prolonged and widespread disease, coming in waves with a total duration of a year or more, and causing millions of deaths and major disruptions to the world’s economy.
Seasonal Flu
On a far smaller scale, an average of 5-20% of the U.S. population typically experiences seasonal flu during the period between December and May every year. The virus causes a contagious respiratory illness that is easily transferred among people who spread the disease to others in airborne droplets by coughing or sneezing. The virus can live for as long as two hours on surfaces such as doorknobs, desks and tables.
It usually takes one to four days for you to feel the symptoms after exposure to the flu. Healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after exhibiting symptoms, which include:
- fever
- stuffy or runny nose
- headache
- muscle aches and/or stiffness
- extreme fatigue sweating/chills
- dry cough
- nausea
- vomiting and diarrhea (more common among children than adults)
- sore throat
Seasonal Flu Prevention
Seasonal flu can cause mild to serious illness and even death among the very young, elderly, and other individuals with impaired immunity, low resistance or chronic illnesses. Every year in the U.S., more than 200,000 people are hospitalized with flu complications and about 36,000 people die from the flu.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the most effective way to keep from getting the flu is to be vaccinated against the most likely strain of seasonal flu before flu season starts. Unless your healthcare provider advises otherwise, you should get a flu shot at least two weeks before the start of the flu season to develop adequate immunity. (For recommendations on who should or should not get vaccinated, go to http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm)
For the schedule of flu vaccinations at Western, visit the Health Services web site.
In addition, you can prepare for an outbreak of seasonal flu in several ways. First, practice good health habits, including eating a balanced diet, exercising daily and getting sufficient rest. In general, you can help to stop the spread of infection with personal hygiene:
- Washing your hands frequently with soap and water
- Covering your coughs and sneezes with tissues
- Staying away from others as much as possible if you are sick
- Use over-the-counter remedies for pain relief, as needed
Seasonal Flu Care
If you are experiencing symptoms of seasonal flu, see your healthcare provider. There may be medicines you can take to lessen the symptoms and help you recover. In addition, you should:
- Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids
- Get plenty of rest
- Cover your coughs or sneezes with disposable tissues
- Stay away from others to avoid spreading the disease
History of Pandemics
Once a disease becomes highly transmissible and spreads efficiently and rapidly to humans around the world, it is considered a pandemic. There have been 10 recorded pandemics over the past 300 years, three of which occurred in the last century: (http://www.cdc.gov/flu)
- In 1918-1919, the “Spanish Flu” or H1N1 sickened an estimated 20-40% of the world’s population. Millions of people died; 500,000 in the U.S. It spread rapidly; many died within days of infection. The attack rate and mortality was highest among adults 20-50 years old, although the reasons for this are uncertain.
- In 1957-58, the “Asian Flu” or H2N2 caused an estimated 2 million deaths worldwide, including about 70,000 in the U.S. Infection rates where highest among school children, young adults and pregnant women; the death rate was highest among the elderly. A second wave developed in 1958.
- In 1968-69, the “Hong Kong Flu” or H3N2 caused nearly a million deaths around the world and 34,000 in the U.S. Victims over age 65 were most likely to die. This virus returned in 1970 and 1972 and still circulates today.
Western’s Pandemic Flu Plan
The university’s response to an outbreak of pandemic flu with a significant threat to the health and well-being of students, faculty and staff will be guided by the Western’s Pandemic Flu Plan in cooperation with public health officials at the local, state and federal levels.
Western Carolina University’s Planning
Western is taking steps to prepare for the possibility of a pandemic, which could affect the entire university community.
- A Pandemic Flu Planning Committee has been formed and is working on a draft document.
- The University’s Plan is in DRAFT form at this time
- Western has scheduled a rehearsal of various scenarios on September 11 with a “table top” exercise scheduled for October 4.
- Western is developing policies to deal with options such as rescheduling or postponing classes and public events, identifying essential personnel and their responsibilities and employees' work options.
- Essential functions and critical personnel are being identified to enable the university to continue to function during a pandemic event.
- Plans are being developed to help support students who may not be able to get home and are likely to remain on campus if classes are postponed or cancelled.
- Plans are being developed to care for students who become ill and may continue to live on campus.
Your Personal Plan
As with any potential emergency, it is good to have a plan for yourself and your family. Authorities recommend having at least 7 days’ worth of water and non-perishable food on hand so that you could “shelter in place,” if necessary. (http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/checklist.html)
Because a pandemic, if it ever comes, is likely to disrupt the normal routines of all commerce, transportation, banking, and health care as well as schools, churches and other places, you should not assume that public or private agencies will be able to come to your rescue.
Pandemic Flu Links
Scientists are concerned that avian flu has the potential to develop a subtype that attacks humans and becomes a pandemic. While that may never happen, you can keep informed about the status of the avian flu and the most up-to-date government response by monitoring sites with reliable information such as
- World Health Organization
- US Department of Health and Human Services
- US Centers for Disease Control
- NC Department of Health and Human Services
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs with answers are available on the World Health Organization and The Center of Disease Control websites.
