Pandemic influenza
A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a disease, where outbreaks or epidemics occur in most regions of the world. An influenza or flu pandemic is likely to occur when the influenza virus undergoes major change (‘antigenic shift’), and a new influenza virus emerges that is different to existing strains and to which people are not immune.
A pandemic will occur if the new virus:
- infects people (rather than, or in addition to, animals or birds)
- spreads from person to person
- causes illness in a high proportion of the people infected
- spreads widely (most people will have little or no immunity to the new virus and will be susceptible to infection).
The council has specific responsibilities including:
- maintaining critical services, notably assistance to vulnerable members of the community
- coping with an increased demand for bereavement services (for example coroner, registration, mortuary, cemeteries and crematoria)
- protecting staff from an increased risk of exposure due to the performance of their particular duties (for example, care staff and staff who interface with the public).
The County Council has produced a pandemic influenza plan that details how we will respond to such an event. Read the pandemic influenza plan.
