While a pandemic flu outbreak is not an imminent threat to the health of Penn State students and employees, it is also not a zero threat. While most people have some immunity to seasonal flu and a vaccine is available, new strains develop each year. Likewise, a new vaccine is developed each year to combat many of the virus changes. However, humans may have little natural immunity to some of these new strains, increasing the potential for a worldwide, or pandemic, outbreak. The H5N1 variant of the avian, or bird flu, is a recent strain that has produced concern among health care professionals. There is no human immunity and a vaccine is not available for H5N1.

This potential public health problem clearly cannot be ignored. Therefore, Penn State has developed contingency plans to deal with a possible outbreak.

Read the Penn State Pandemic Plan

Avian Influenza ("Bird Flu") Frequently Asked Questions

Decrease your risk of influenza infection by following these tips:

Suggestions for Preventing the Flu

For additional information, visit the links below:

Read the Pennsylvania Pandemic Plan http://www.pandemicflu.state.pa.us/pandemicflu/site/default.asp

PandemicFlu.gov

General Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/

Global Information from the World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/index.html