Question

Pandemic Outbreaks in the US

Answer 1

A disease outbreak happens when a disease occurs in greater numbers than expected in a community or region or during a season. An outbreak may occur in one community or even extend to several countries. It can last from days to years.

Sometimes a single case of a contagious disease is considered an outbreak. This may be true if it is an unknown disease, is new to a community, or has been absent from a population for a long time.

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. HIV/AIDS is an example of one of the most destructive global pandemics in history.

How many people die from a pandemic depends upon:

• The number of people who become infected
• The severity of disease caused by the virus (its virulence)
• The vulnerability of affected populations
• The effectiveness of preventive steps.

The most recent remarkable pandemic out break in the US was due to flu.   recently Boston had to declare a public health emergency and has coincided with outbreaks of other nasty ills across the country.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 41 states are experiencing widespread flu activity, and the agency estimates 128 million doses of the flu vaccine have been administered this month, which constitutes 95 percent of the estimated 135 million doses manufacturers planned to make this year.

There have been a number of significant pandemics recorded in human history, generally zoonoses which came about with domestication of animals, such as influenzaand tuberculosis. There have been a number of particularly significant epidemics that deserve mention above the "mere" destruction of cities: