WHAT IS A FLU PANDEMIC?
A flu pandemic happens when a new kind of flu virus makes people sick all over the world. It can last for many months, affect many different places and be very dangerous. Millions of people around the world might get very sick. Many people could die. In the 1900s there were three flu pandemics, including the Spanish Flu of 1918 which caused over 40 million deaths worldwide (over 500,000 in the U.S.) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009 more than 60 million people got sick, more than 274,000 were hospitalized, and more than 12,000 died in the U.S. No one knows for sure when, or where, the next flu pandemic might happen, but everyone should be prepared.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
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A lot of sick people
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Hospitals and clinics with long lines, lack of medicine
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Closed schools, businesses, stores, banks and government offices
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Limited supplies (food and water)
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Limited services (power, water, garbage collection)
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
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Be as healthy as you can be. Eat a balanced diet, get plenty of rest and exercise daily
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Stay away from anyone who is sick
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Stay home from work or school if you feel sick
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Clean the surfaces of shared objects (telephones, countertops, doorknobs)
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Listen for school and work closings
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth (these are attack areas for the flu virus)
- Wash your hands frequently to avoid spreading germs
- Get a flu shot if you haven't already
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Make sure your emergency supply kit is ready
If there is a flu pandemic, check your local TV and radio stations and the Internet for information and instructions.
For more information about pandemic flu, go to www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch.
