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A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads rapidly around the world with high
rates of illness and death. Although people are exposed to different strains
of the flu virus every year, history has shown that several times each
century entirely new flu strains develop. Because no one has had a chance to
develop immunity to the new flu strain, it can spread rapidly and widely. If
the changed virus causes serious illness and easily spreads from person to
person, a pandemic can occur.
Currently there is concern about one
strain of
Avian influenza (bird flu), known as
H5N1, because it is causing severe disease in wild birds, chickens, and
other poultry in
several continents. In some instances,
people who have had close contact with sick poultry have also become
infected, some have died. There is concern if H5N1 is able to change so that
it will be easily spread from birds to humans and then from human to human.
New York State, the state's local health
departments and the federal government are actively involved in planning for
the possibility of an influenza pandemic.
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