Influenza pandemics are natural phenomena which have occurred three times in the last century. Their severity has ranged from something similar to seasonal influenza to a major threat to society, with many millions of people worldwide becoming ill and a proportion of these dying. No country can expect to escape the impact of a pandemic entirely, and when it arrives most people are likely to be at an increased risk of catching the virus at some point.
Managing the impact of an influenza pandemic therefore presents us with unique and difficult challenges if we are to save lives and keep our society running.
Protecting the public from pandemic flu is a priority for the Scottish Government. Details of all the planning activity which is being carried out can be found in the pandemic flu planning section.
Understanding the nature of pandemic flu is an important part of being prepared, so below is some key information to aid that understanding.