The Pandemic Flu: Planning and Preparedness

Running Head : THE PANDEMIC FLU

The Pandemic Flu : Planning and Preparedness (Full Name (University /College /School Name (Professor 's Full Name (Course /Subject Name

Introduction : The Pandemic Flu

One of the most common illnesses affecting man is the flu . To most people , a bout of flu is simply having fever , coughs , fatigue , headache and runny nose , among many others . However , little do these people know that a simple flu , if uncontained , could prove fatal to the community

According to the World Health Organization , the recent outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza or

bird flu is a sign that another pandemic influenza can occur . It can be recalled that from 1918-1919 , a similar influenza pandemic which claimed an estimated 50 million lives all around the world (Centers for Disease and Control Prevention , 2006 . The virus killed more people than AIDS has killed in 24 years . In the United States alone , the death toll of the 1918-1919 began at 500 ,000 although some estimate the number to be as high as 700 ,000

In addition , the morbidity rate during that time was 15 to 30 and in San Antonio alone , it was reported that at least one family member suffered from the flu (Centers for Disease and Control Prevention 2006 , which is highly contagious as it is a respiratory illness and can spread through coughing , sneezing , or touching of objects contaminated with the virus , among others

The death rates were just as high in army camps where people are closer together most...