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|  Bureau of Communicable DiseasePandemic FluRead the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan Use of Emergency Department Surveillance Data to Monitor the Impact of Influenza by Age
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The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is working closely with several City, State and federal agencies and the medical community in New York City to prepare for a possible flu pandemic. The City is planning for continuity of essential services, making sure hospitals and health services are ready, and educating the public about the personal precautions they could take. There are a number of systems in place to detect where and when flu viruses occur, and to help communicate quickly with doctors and the public about how to avoid infection in the event of a pandemic. A flu pandemic would present a tremendous challenge, and could last for many months. If there were a pandemic, New Yorkers should:
Read New York City's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan For more information on Pandemic Flu Preparedness, log on to http://www.pandemicflu.gov and http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/cd-panflu.shtml For more information on emergency planning and preparedness, visit the New York City Office of Emergency Management's website How are Seasonal, Avian and Pandemic Flu different?Influenza viruses are common and occur worldwide, and can be grouped according to what animals they can infect (e.g., humans, birds, pigs, horses). The influenza viruses are usually only capable of infected one specific type of animal. Seasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Seasonal flu occurs every winter and spring and is transmitted when infected people sneeze or cough. Each year, thousands of people die and many more are hospitalized from seasonal flu. There is a vaccine available for seasonal flu, and people should get an annual flu shot. Severe illness is usually limited to the elderly and young infants. Avian (or bird) flu is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. There are many avian influenza or “bird flu” viruses and they occur naturally and commonly among birds, particularly domestic poultry and some wild birds. The H5N1 variant is deadly to domestic fowl. Only in rare instance are these viruses passed to other animals and people through close contact with bodily fluids (blood, feces) from infected birds. The human avian influenza cases that have been reported around the world since 2003 have been linked to contact with infected domestic (non-wild) poultry. There is no human immunity and no human vaccine is available. Pandemic flu can be caused by the emergence of a new human flu virus that spreads easily from person to person causing a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because it is a new flu virus, there is little natural immunity and people of all ages may become ill. Currently, there is no pandemic flu. The last pandemic was in 1968. New York City Information Links
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