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NCSL Influenza Report

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Overview

A global emergence of avian influenza has made state and local authorities mindful of the potential impact a pandemic of any origin may have on our daily lives.  Even the most common forms of influenza will hospitalize on average more than 200,000 people every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infections caused by influenza virus A or B have resulted in 36,000 deaths in the United States between 1990 and 1999. Over the last three years avian influenza has claimed the lives of 241 people in 10 countries as well as adversely affecting the poultry industry worldwide. Many scientists believe it is only a matter of time until the next influenza pandemic occurs.  Shortages of the influenza vaccine supply in three of the last five flu seasons and the possibility of an outbreak of more serious strains of influenza have called into question the nations ability to endure a pandemic outbreak.

Pandemic Timeline Major pandemic The appearance of a new influenza strain in the human population  1918   1957-58    1968-69    1977  1997  1999  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 “Spanish flu” H1N1 500,000 deaths in the U.S. 20-50 million deaths worldwide.   "Asian flu" H2N2 70,000 deaths in the U.S.*             . "Hong Kong flu" H3N2  34,000 deaths in the U.S.              “Russian flu” H1N1 Isolated in northern China**          H5N1 18 people in Hong Kong were hospitalized, six of whom died.*** H9N2 Appeared for the first time in humans.  H7N2 Evidence of infection is found in one person in Virginia following a poultry outbreak. H5N1 Caused two Hong Kong family members to be hospitalized after a visit to China, killing one of them, a 33-year-old man. H7N7 In the first reported cases of this strain in humans, infected 89 people in the Netherlands, 1 death . H7N2 Caused a person to be hospitalized in New York. H9N2 Caused illness in one child in Hong Kong.  H5N1 Infected  47 people in Thailand and Vietnam, 34 of whom died. H7N3 Is reported for the first time in humans, two poultry workers in Canada.  H10N7 Is reported for the first time in humans. It caused illness in two infants in Egypt. H5N1 First case of human H5N1 infection in Cambodia in February and 4 by May, all were fatal.  First Indonesian case, which is fatal, in July with an additional 7 in the next 3 months resulting in 4 deaths, occur. On December 30, WHO reports a cumulative total of 142 laboratory-confirmed cases of H5N1 infection worldwide, all in Asia, with 74 deaths.     H5N1 2 human cases in Eastern Turkey, both fatal. 10 human cases in China, 7 fatal. 1  human case in Iraq which was fatal. 7 confirmed cases, and 5 deaths, in Azerbaijan. 4 cases of human H5N1 infection, and 2 fatalities, in Egypt. 1 confirmed  case of human H5N1 in the African nation of Djibouti. This was the first confirmed case in sub-Saharan Africa. *This strain has not circulated in humans since 1968 meaning no one under 30 years old has immunity. **Individuals born before 1957 were generally protected, however children and young adults born after that year were not because they had no prior immunity. ***The first time an influenza virus was found to be transmitted directly from birds to people, with infections linked to exposure to poultry markets. Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health.                Pandemic Facts Pandemic Preparedness Vaccines/Antivirals and Medical Supplies and Resources The Economic Impact of Pandemic Flu  Business Continuity Planning New Developments

For further information, please call NCSL staff Joy Johnson Wilson, Health Policy Director at 202-624-8689 or Rachel Morgan RN, BSN, Senior Health Policy Specialist at 202-624-3569.