Advice about pandemic flu and how to protect yourself and your family.
Go to our Swine Flu Influenza pages in this section for the latest news updates, health advice and information leaflets about the current swine flu pandemic, and details of the new National Pandemic Flu Service.
What is Pandemic Flu?
A pandemic is an epidemic of a disease that spreads quickly and reaches many countries across the world. Pandemic influenza (flu) has symptoms that are similar to ordinary seasonal influenza, but they are more severe and can cause deaths.
Flu viruses are always changing, and new strains emerge. When a flu virus appears that is so different from all of the others that we do not have any immunity (resistance) to it, it can spread quickly and become a pandemic.
Pandemic flu can occur at any time of the year and is different to the ordinary seasonal flu that occurs every winter in the UK for which flu jabs are available.
Information Leaflets to Download
In 2005 the Department of Health (DH) published an advice leaflet Pandemic Flu: Important Information for You and Your Family, which you can download in English or 20 other languages.
The DH website also has another useful leaflet Explaining Pandemic Flu: A Guide from the Chief Medical Officer. The DH also have answers to frequently asked questions, key facts, and the UK Health Departments' Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan.
Go to our Swine Flu Influenza pages in this section for the latest 2009 information leaflets about the current swine flu pandemic.
