Pandemic flu affecting humans occurs due to the emergence of a new flu virus which is markedly different from recently circulating strains. It could happen if :
- Avian flu combines with ‘ordinary’ flu; or
- the Avian flu virus mutates and you get a completely new flu strain that can be transmitted directly from one person to another.
It has not happened yet, but if it did, it would be a big problem. Few, if any, people will have any immunity to the new virus. This allows it to spread widely, easily and to cause more serious illness. Experts predict another pandemic will occur but cannot say exactly when. Each pandemic is different and, until the virus starts circulating, it is impossible to predict its full effects.
The World Health Organisation is coordinating international efforts to identify and develop vaccines and treatments to reduce the effects of this illness, the hardest part in this process is that the exact science can only be achieved as the illness emerges, so understanding how virus mutate, and finding medicines that reduce their ability to reproduce and spread has and continues to be a key area of work.
Absences from illness may be considerably higher than normal absence patterns, placing unusual demands on both local business's and public services abilities to provide their normal levels of service. Organisations should be developing business continuity plans to enable them selves to assess staff absences both directly and the organisations that support them, eg other suppliers, stock for production, looking at staff working from home, and so on.
All authoritative sources, identify personal hygiene as being, whilst the most basic step in self help, one of the most effective barriers to transmission; clean hands regularly in hot fresh water with soap, clean surfaces as for hands, washing clothing at recommended temperatures with recommended detergent, have all been identified as simple but very effective steps in reducing the spread of the illness.
Seasonal flu
Seasonal flu occurs in the UK population as a matter of course, usually two or three times a year, this is ‘ordinary’ flu.
For further detailed information visit:
For more information contact:
Alan Points
District Emergency Planning Officer
West Suffolk House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 3YU
Phone: 01284 758461
Email: alan.points@stedsbc.gov.uk
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