Glossary

Avian Influenza: an infection caused by flu viruses in birds, many experts believe avian influenza may lead to the next flu pandemic.

Bird Flu:  see avian influenza

Epidemic: a disease that spreads quickly among individuals in the same community at the same time

Flu: see influenza

Influenza: Influenza, commonly called "the flu," is caused by the influenza virus, which infects the respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs). Unlike many other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, the flu causes severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people.

Isolation: separating a sick person from people who are healthy

Pandemic: a disease that is spread throughout a large area, country or the world; an epidemic over a large region

Pandemic Influenza: a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in the human population, causes serious illness and spreads easily from person to person worldwide

Quarantine: separating a person who has been exposed to a disease from those who have not been exposed to the disease

Seasonal Flu: a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, causes mild to sever illness, is worse from December through February, most people have some immunity, a vaccine is available

Spanish Flu: the worse flu pandemic on record which occurred in 1918-1919, over 40 million people died worldwide from this pandemic including half a million Americans

Vaccine: a weakened or dead form of a virus introduced to the body to produce immunity to a specific disease by forming antibodies, often given in the form of a shot