Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

A2. What is an influenza pandemic

The word pandemic (from Greek language pan meaning all and demos meaning people) is used to describe an epidemic that affects the populations across every continent.

An influenza pandemic occurs when:

• a new subtype of influenza virus emerges in humans which most people have not been previously exposed and are, therefore, highly susceptible
• the virus causes a serious disease in humans
• the virus is easily and rapidly spread between humans, infecting large numbers of people worldwide and causing many deaths.

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This information is current for 03 September, 2010
This information was issued on 05 December, 2008