Introduction
World health organization has divided influenza into six stages and three periods this is done to globally prepare people. All the phases from 1 to 6 offer a wide coverage on the process of the influenza pandemic from the time a new virus subtype is shown signs in animals to the time it spreads to infect people.
Interpandemic period: it has two phases
- Phase 1: in this phase, there is no possible threat of a new virus subtype in humans globally. The risk groups such as the medical professionals receive seasonal influenza vaccination (centers for disease control and prevention, 2005).
- Phase 2: as in phase 1no a new virus subtype has been deducted in humans. However, a new virus subtype is circulating in animals and is presenting a substantial risk of infection to humans (centers for disease control and prevention, 2005).
Pandemic alert period: has three phases
- Phase 3: in this phase, there are few cases of isolated of people infected with a new influenza virus subtype (centers for disease control and prevention, 2005). However, the virus is noncommunicable to other humans. In this phase, emphasis is placed on preventing the spread of the virus to humans. Antiviral drugs and vaccines are researched and developed in preparation for the influenza outbreak.
- Phase 4: in this phase, the outbreaks are few with cases of human-to-human transmission being very minimal mostly affecting the people who are in contact with the infected people. The virus is not widespread
- Phase 5: a larger number of human beings are infected but the virus subtype is still localized found in small sections, showing that the virus is becoming increasingly adapted to humans. In this phase, the virus is not fully communicable.
Pandemic period
- Phase 6: “in this phase the risk of transmission increases in the general population. There is a substantial spread and sustained transmission of the new influenza virus subtype which then develops into a pandemic virus” (centers for disease control and prevention, 2005)
Reference list
Centers for disease control and prevention, (2005).Stages of a Pandemic.