Viral respiratory disease pandemics (including influenza)
Viral respiratory pathogens, such as influenza (particularly novel influenza viruses) and novel coronaviruses (like the virus that causes COVID-19), have the potential to create pandemics. A pandemic occurs when a new virus spreads from human to human and country to country in a short period of time, affecting a large number of people across multiple countries and/or continents. A new virus would be able to spread quickly because most people would not have any immunity. Vaccines may not be available right away until experts get a chance to study and identify the new virus.
Pandemics are not just bad flu seasons. In fact, they are not seasonal at all. They can happen at any time of the year and are naturally occurring.
What can I do to prevent getting a pandemic virus?
During a pandemic, it will take at least 4-6 months to develop and deliver a new vaccine. Here are some things you can do to help prevent any respiratory virus from spreading:
Wash your hands often with soap and water.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Avoid close contact with other people (keep a distance of at least 10 feet).
- Consider wearing a mask in public or crowded paces.
- Pay attention to information from public health about risks and preventive actions — information changes quickly as more is learned about a virus early in a pandemic.
If you get sick, stay home! You want to avoid spreading viruses to others. If someone in your family or household gets sick, make sure you know how to give the best care, and understand when and how to seek testing and treatment recommended by public health.
To prevent the spread of a pandemic virus, public health will provide frequent updates to the public to help you know how to stay healthy and may close schools, businesses, or public events to prevent more spread.