Though it may seem a little early in the year to be thinking about the flu, the buzz about bird flu and pandemic flu is a hot topic. You can find information on these topics in all the major media outlets reporting daily on the developing public health threat. Unfortunately in an effort to make the story sound exciting, facts can become misreported. Here are a few facts about seasonal flu, pandemic flu and avian flu.

For more information please visit www.pandemicflu.gov or call the Health Department at (973) 509-4970.

Seasonal Flu:

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness. It can cause mild to severe illness. The best way to prevent this illness is by getting a flu vaccination (shot) each fall.

Flu viruses spread in respiratory droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. They usually spread from person to person, though sometimes people become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. That means that you can pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Every year in the United States, on average:

• • 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
• • more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications;
• • about 36,000 people die from flu.

Symptoms of flu include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea.

Pandemic Flu:

Pandemic flu is a world wide outbreak of a new flu virus for which there is little or no immunity (protection) in the human population. Pandemic flu can be spread easily from person to person, cause serious illness and death. When new pandemic flu spreads it creates a public health emergency. Pandemic flu will last longer, make more people seriously ill. A long lasting and widespread outbreak of the disease could mean changes in many areas of our lives. So many people will be ill, many employees will not be able to go to work and many businesses and public services may have to close or limit hours.

Avian Flu:
Avian flu, also known as bird flu is caused by a virus that occurs naturally in wild birds. Wild birds usually don’t get sick from the virus, but they can pass it on to domesticated birds like chickens, turkeys and ducks, which can get very sick. Bird flu viruses and human flu viruses are similar, but they are not exactly the same. Bird flu viruses mainly infect birds. They do not usually infect humans. But over time, bird flu viruses could change and spread among humans.

Public health officials are concerned that the bird flu could one day be able to infect humans and spread from person to person. The first case of human infection was reported in 1997. Since then, more than 100 human cases have been reported in Asia. Half of the infected people died. Bird flu is spread when infected birds shed virus in their saliva, nasal secretions and droppings. Public health officials believe people were infected with bird flu after they had direct contact with these bodily fluids, or surfaces contaminated with these fluids. There is no danger from eating poultry or eggs, as long as they are fully cooked. To date there have been have been no human cases of bird flu in the US.

What You Can Do:

• • Wash hands frequently using soap and water
• • Cover your coughs and sneezes with tissues. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Put used tissues in the trash and then wash your hands.
• • If you are sick, stay home and away from others.
• • Don’t send sick children to school.
• • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

For more tips on what you can do or what you can put in your “Pandemic Flu Emergency Kit”, contact the Health Department at 973-509-4970.