• Flu outbreaks follow predictable seasonal patterns in the United States; it occurs annually, usually
  in winter.
  
  
• Healthy adults are usually not at
  risk for serious complications. Children, the elderly and those with certain health problems are at higher risk for serious complications.
  
  
• Health care providers and hospitals can meet public and patient healthcare needs.
  
  
• Vaccine is developed based on known flu strains and is available for the annual flu season.
  
  
  
• Often effective antivirals are available.
  
  
• Average U.S. deaths are approximately 36,000/year.
  
  
• Symptoms: fever, cough, runny nose, muscle ache and fatigue. Deaths can occur due to complications, such as pneumonia.
  
  
• Generally causes modest impact on society (those sick should stay home from work or school).
  
  
• Manageable impact on domestic and world economy.

Pandemic Flu

• Occurs rarely (three times in 20th century - 1918, 1957, 1968).
  
  
  
• People have no immunity due to no previous exposure.
  
  
• Healthy people may be at increased risk for serious complications.
  
  
  
• Health care providers and hospitals may be overwhelmed
  
  
• Vaccine would not be available in the early stages of a pandemic
  
  
• Effective antivirals will probably be in limited supply "
  
  
• The number of deaths could be quite high (e.g. U.S. 1918 death toll was approximately 675,000)
  
  
• Symptoms may be more severe and complications more frequent
  
  
• May cause major impact on society (e.g. widespread restrictions on travel, closings of schools and businesses, cancellation of large public gatherings)
  
  
• Potential for severe impact on domestic and world economy