Highland County Health Department<br> Hillsboro, Ohio

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily person-to-person, causes serious illness, and can sweep across the country and around the world in very short time.

It is difficult to predict when the next influenza pandemic will occur or how severe it will be. Wherever and whenever a pandemic starts, everyone around the world is at risk. Countries might, through measures such as border closures and travel restrictions, delay arrival of the virus, but cannot stop it.

Health professionals are concerned that the continued spread of a highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus across eastern Asia and other countries represents a significant threat to human health. The H5N1 virus has raised concerns about a potential human pandemic because:

-It is especially virulent

-It is being spread by migratory birds

-It can be transmitted from birds to mammals and in some limited circumstances to

humans, and

-Like other influenza viruses, it continues to change over time.

How are we Preparing?

As stated above, vaccine would likely not be available to treat pandemic flu for about 6 months after the flu initially becomes easily transmitted from human to human. It is impossible to accurately predict what areas of the world will be hit first, or how hard. Because of this fact, it is difficult for local health departments to plan for pandemic flu. We do not know at what point Highland County will become effected, or how much, if any, vaccine will be available for us to use.

Current planning activities focus primarily on community and business education, and determining the best social distancing methods for preventing the spread of pandemic influenza. The health department is working hard to assure that we are as prepared as possible for this potentially devastating disease outbreak. If you have questions regarding pandemic influenza planning, please contact the Highland County Health Department Emergency Response Coordinator at 937-393-1941.