Pandemic influenza
Pandemic Influenza
Pandemic influenza (pronunciation: pan·dem·ic in·flu·en·za) is a global outbreak of a new influenza virus that is very different from current and recently circulating human seasonal influenza viruses.
Etymology
The term "pandemic" is derived from the Greek words pan, meaning "all", and demos, meaning "people". Influenza comes from the Italian word influenza, meaning "influence".
Definition
A pandemic is declared when a new influenza virus emerges, spreads worldwide, and causes disease in humans on a scale ranging from mild to severe. It can occur when a new influenza A virus subtype to which most people have little or no immunity infects humans, gains the ability to spread efficiently from person to person, and then spreads globally.
Related Terms
- Epidemic: An outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many individuals at the same time.
- Endemic: A disease that exists permanently in a particular region or population.
- H1N1: A subtype of Influenza A virus, which was the most common cause of human influenza (flu) in 2009.
- H3N2: Another subtype of Influenza A virus, and along with H1N1, one of the two strains most commonly included in the seasonal flu vaccine.
- Antiviral drugs: Medications that are used specifically for treating viral infections.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pandemic influenza
- Wikipedia's article - Pandemic influenza
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