Pandemic Influenza
Pandemic H1N1 Influenza
A pandemic is the worldwide outbreak of a specific disease to which people have little or no immunity. There is currently an influenza pandemic caused by a new H1N1 virus. The virus began causing illness in Mexico in March 2009. It reached Canada at the end of April and had spread world-wide by June.
Various strains of influenza A and B viruses circulate throughout the world each year, causing “seasonal influenza” (usually April-November in Alberta). The influenza virus often changes slightly. Most people who have had influenza will have some protection against the changed virus.
However, three to four times each century the influenza A virus changes dramatically. People do not have any protection against it and the virus can spread rapidly around the world causing more serious illness and death than seasonal influenza. The high rates of illness can also affect how communities function and the economy.
While the majority of cases of Pandemic H1N1 (2009) virus are mild, there are some pockets of severe illness in Canada, including in some remote First Nations communities. The World Health Organization and governments around the world are monitoring the virus closely. A resurgence of the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus (second wave of the pandemic) is possible in the fall.
It is important for all Albertans to become informed about the influenza pandemic so that they can:
- Protect themselves and others against the virus;
- Learn how to care for themselves and others if illness happens;
- Know when and where to seek medical care; and
- Make plans in case high rates of absenteeism disrupt workplaces or community services.
A pandemic plan
Alberta has a plan to respond to pandemic influenza, called Alberta’s Plan for Pandemic Influenza. This plan aims to slow the spread of disease, minimize serious illness or death and avoid disruptions to essential community services. The provincial plan will reduce the impact of the disease, but not eliminate it. The plan outlines the coordinated and phased-in responses for the Government of Alberta, the health system, municipalities and other partners to work together to assist Albertans.
