Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) & Flu Pandemics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends four different influenza antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir, and zanamivir) that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment and prevention of influenza. However, sometimes influenza strains can become resistant to these drugs, and therefore the drugs may not always be effective. (Monitoring of avian influenza A viruses for resistance to influenza antiviral medications is ongoing.)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is stockpiling antivirals and is allocating them to states based on population. Purchases in FY2006 will bring the nation’s stockpile of antivirals to 20 million courses by the end of this year (a course is the supply needed to treat one person). With anticipated FY2007 funding, HHS plans to order an additional 24 million courses which will likely be delivered in 2008. State allocations from the national stockpile, listed below, are based on population.

The first few sections of this monograph deal with topics related to the influenza virus, with special attention on the 1918 Spanish Flu, which was the last major pandemic.

During a major pandemic, many ordinary people will find themselves responsible for providing medical care to loved ones and friends.