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A new strain of Influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu, was confirmed in the UK in April and has spread to more than 100 countries around the world. Although symptoms have generally proved mild, a small number of patients will develop more serious illness. Many of these people have other underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease, that put them at increased risk.
Swine flu - what it is, what to do, where to get help
A pandemic is a rapidly-spreading epidemic of a disease that affects most countries and regions of the world. The symptoms of pandemic flu are similar to those of the ordinary seasonal flu that occurs each winter, but are usually more severe.
Pandemics occur when a virus emerges that is so different from previously circulating strains that few, if any, people have any immunity to it. This allows it to spread widely and rapidly, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. As it is a new virus it is not possible to produce a vaccine to protect people against it in advance.
Experts estimate that as much as a quarter of the UK population could fall ill with pandemic flu and many others might catch it but not develop the symptoms.
Pandemic flu has emerged from time to time throughout history. Last century there were flu pandemics in 1918, 1957 and 1968, when millions of people died across the world. Experts predict that another pandemic may happen soon, but they do not know when.
Concerns have recently increased as a result of the spread of the H5N1 avian (bird) flu. Although bird flu is not the same as pandemic flu, the virus has developed the ability to jump between species to cause severe illness in people. It does not infect people easily, however experts are concerned that if the avian influenza virus mixes with a human flu virus, a new flu virus may be created which could potentially cause a pandemic.
The UK takes the threat of a human flu pandemic seriously and has published a contingency plan. The plan sets out the measures that are being taken to prepare the UK for any future pandemic including:
If a pandemic is declared by the World Health Organisation you will be given more information on what you can do to reduce the risk of catching flu and what to do if you fall ill.
The UK government's principal medical adviser - the Chief Medical Officer - has issued information for both you and your family on what to do if a human flu pandemic emerges.
You can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading influenza during a pandemic by:
