Influenza

Influenza (or flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Human influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Every year in the U.S., approximately 36,000 people die from flu or flu-related complications. Some people, such as older residents, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. For more information on human influenza click here.

Avian influenza (or bird flu) is a type of influenza virus that is associated with avian (or bird) species. Although it is a disease of birds, it can occassionally affect people, but is not the same as a human influenza pandemic. While it is possible for humans to contract a form of avian influenza through close contact with a bird, a human pandemic would most likely be caused by a new strain of influenza that could be easily transmitted from human-to-human. Click here for additional information on avian influenza.

Pandemic influenza occurs when a new influenza virus emerges that people have little or no immunity to. The disease can cause serious illness as it easily spreads from person-to-person worldwide in a very short time. Currently there is no human pandemic. To read more about pandemic influenza, click here.