What is the difference between seasonal flu, avian flu and pandemic flu?
Seasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available. Avian (or bird) flu is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. The H5N1 type is deadly to domestic fowl (like chickens) and can be transmitted from birds to humans. There is no human immunity and no vaccine is available. Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. Currently, there is no pandemic flu. (Definitions from Pandemicflu.
Seasonal (or Common) flu is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person-to-person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available. Avian (or bird) flu is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. The H5N1 variant is deadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted from birds to humans. There is no human immunity and a vaccine is currently being developed that is showing promise. Pandemic flu is virulent flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because there is little immunity, the disease can be spread easily from person-to-person. Currently, there is no pandemic flu.
Seasonal influenza (or common flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that can be transmitted person to person. Seasonal flu occurs every year and can cause mild to severe illness in people. Some people have a natural immunity but the best protection against seasonal flu is vaccination and hand washing. Avian influenza (or bird flu) is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. The H5N1 variant is deadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted from birds to humans. There is no human immunity and no vaccine is available. Swine influenza (H1N1, or pig flu) is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine
Seasonal Flu is what we usually think of as “the flu.” It is a respiratory illness caused by many different influenza (flu) viruses and can be spread easily from person-to-person. Seasonal flu typically occurs between November and April with symptoms including fever, headache, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches. Avian Flu (or “Bird Flu”) is a term used for a set of flu viruses that cause disease mainly in birds.
