Prevention and treatment
No one knows for sure. Influenza viruses are highly unstable and their behavior defies prediction. However, WHO believes that if the right actions are taken quickly, an influenza pandemic might be averted. At present this is WHO's foremost objective.The first priority, and the major line of defence, is to reduce opportunities for human exposure to the largest reservoir of the virus: infected poultry. This is achieved through the rapid detection of poultry outbreaks and the emergency introduction of control measures, including the destruction all infected or exposed poultry stock, and the proper disposal of carcasses.
All available evidence points to an increased risk of transmission to humans when outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza are widespread in poultry. As the number of human infections grows, the risk increases that a new virus subtype could emerge, triggering an influenza pandemic.
WHO stresses the urgency of the situation and the need for rapid action in the animal and agricultural sectors. For example, the culling in 1997 of Hong Kong's entire bird population - an estimated 1.5 million chickens and other birds - was done in 3 days. Again in 2003, the culling of nearly 30 million birds (out of a total bird population of 100 million) in the Netherlands was done within a week. Rapid action in both of these situations is thought by many influenza experts to have averted an influenza pandemic in humans.
About the virus
Is there a vaccine to protect against pandemic flu?
Are there enough antiviral drugs available for everyone during a pandemic?
What can I do to protect my family and myself from flu?
Will wearing a mask protect me from pandemic flu?
Is there a vaccine to protect against pandemic flu?
There currently is no vaccine to protect against pandemic flu. We do not yet know what strain of flu will cause the next pandemic and a vaccine to protect against pandemic flu cannot be made until the new virus has been identified. Before a pandemic starts it is difficult to predict what strain will cause it and even then, predictions may prove wrong. Also, the new virus may have changed so much that a pre-prepared vaccine becomes ineffective.
Seasonal flu vaccines will not protect against pandemic flu. But seasonal flu can be serious so it is very important that everyone who is due a seasonal flu jab has one. An individual could be infected with both a seasonal flu virus and an avian flu virus at the same time. If this happened the two viruses could combine and a virus with properties from both avian and human viruses could develop.
Can pandemic flu be treated?
Medicines called antivirals can be used to treat influenza. They have been shown to be very helpful in the treatment of ' ordinary ' flu, and it is likely that they will also be effective in the treatment of pandemic flu if taken early on, but their effectiveness will not be known until the pandemic virus is circulating. Antivirals do not stop the flu from developing but they do subdue the symptoms and reduce the time people are sick.
Are there enough antiviral drugs available for everyone during a pandemic?
Antiviral drugs are expensive, take time to manufacture, have a limited shelf life, and will be in high international demand at the time of a pandemic. The UK has a stockpile of antiviral drugs for use in a flu pandemic. As with other medicines it will be necessary to use them in the most effective way. The DH has prioritised groups to receive antiviral drugs. However, it is impossible to identify with absolute certainty those who would benefit most from antiviral treatment, therefore these recommendations are not final and will be reviewed in the event of a pandemic. The priority groups are likely to be: health care workers who develop flu symptoms (to minimize the impact on the health service response) as well as symptomatic un- immunised people in high-risk groups (to reduce illness, complications and hospital admissions). Other un- immunised groups and immunised people may be offered antivirals if emerging information suggests the vaccine is not effective at reducing serious illness, complications or deaths.
What can I do to protect my family and myself from flu?
You can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading influenza during a pandemic by:
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Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
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Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
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Avoiding non-essential travel and overcrowding whenever possible
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Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people
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Cleaning hard surfaces (eg door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product
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Making sure your children follow this advice.
If you do catch flu you should:
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Stay at home and rest until symptom free (avoid spreading your illness to work colleagues).
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Drink plenty of fluids
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Take medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve the symptoms (following the instructions with the medicines). Children under 16 must not be given aspirin or ready-made flu remedies containing aspirin
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NHS Direct can provide more information
These measures are for your own health and to avoid spreading the illness to others.
Will wearing a mask protect me from pandemic flu?
The widespread wearing of masks by the general public during a pandemic is unlikely to be effective in preventing people from becoming infected with the virus. However, DH states that they may have some limited use for those already infected with the virus in order to prevent them spreading it further. Health care workers and Emergency Service Staff will be advised on the situations in which it may be appropriate for them to wear masks.
The Department of Health has published an evidence base on the use of facemasks during a pandemic.
Last reviewed: 13 August 2008
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