What is an influenza (flu) pandemic?
The flu viruses change every year. They usually change in small ways. The flu shot changes every year to fight new viruses.
Big changes in the virus
Sometimes a flu virus changes in a big way. This happens 3 or 4 times every 100 years.
A new flu spreads easily. More people get this flu. And they get sicker.
When this new flu spreads to many countries, it is called a flu pandemic.
There is no flu pandemic right now. But many experts think there will be one in the next 5 to 10 years. Canada and other countries are preparing for the next pandemic.
20 million people died
| There was a flu pandemic in 1918 and 1919. It was called the Spanish flu. More than 20 million people died around the world. About 30,000 to 50,000 Canadians died. |
These women lived in Alberta during the 1918 flu pandemic. |
What to do if there is a pandemic
- Call Health Link Alberta for information.
- Watch for information from the Alberta government in newspapers, on TV and radio.
What is influenza (the flu)?
How does the flu spread?
Symptoms for adults
The flu can be serious
How to protect yourself and others from the flu
What to do when adults get the flu
Over-the-counter medicine can help
When to go to the doctor
Children and the flu
What is an influenza (flu) pandemic?
What to do if there is a pandemic
Bird flu in the news
The flu is different from a cold and the stomach flu
Health Link Alberta
