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.

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.

There has been no sustained human-to-human transmission of the disease, but the concern is that H5N1 will evolve into a virus capable of human-to-human transmission.   Please follow the link we've provided, and take some time to prepare your family and your business for this potential threat.  http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/index.html.  The homepage for Avian Flu is www.pandemicflu.gov

Other planning links:

U.S. Department of Education Guidance for Schools and Parents

Interim Guidance on Planning for the Use of Surgical masks and Respirators in Health Care Settings during an Influenza Pandemic

New York Times Op-Ed On The Use of Surgical Masks

Pandemic Influenza: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery--Guide for Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources