Pandemics

A Report by Franz Jonathan de la Fuente and

Aleli Roselo
for Envi Sci 1 WFV-2 • Dr. Armador C. Argete • 1st Sem,
AY ‘07-’08
 Definition
pan = all

demos = people

Epidemic: a widespread occurrence of an

infectious disease in a community at a
particular time (Oxford American Dictionary, 2008)

Pandemic: an epidemic of infectious

disease that spreads through human
populations across a large region, for
example a continent, or even worldwide
(Wikipedia, 2008)
To become a Pandemic, satisfy
these conditions first: (WHO)
New
the disease is new to the population

Infectious
the agent infects humans, causing serious
illness

Contagious
the agent spreads easily and sustainably
among humans

“Efficient and sustained human-to-human

transmission”
The Life of a Pandemic
Birth

Life

Death
Birth: The ordinary virus
mutates!
Beginnings of a Pandemic:

Type A influenza virus acquires new

proteins

Because this virus is "new" to humans, no

one has the natural antibodies/immunity
system to fight them off

No antibodies... lagot! Pandemic

outbreak!
 Life: Party like a
Pandemic
Travel!
through droplets that come from an infected
person (sneezing, coughing, spitting, etc)
Body to body: physical contact with an infected
life form
human to human; animal to animal;
human to animal; animal to human
 Life: Party like a
Pandemic
Mutate, outbreak!

Multiply

Benefit from human’s technology and

Globalization trends – travel free, easily

Mutate and Multiply

Death
Anticipate defeat by
our “life “saviors:
Antibodies
Brought by
technology
Needs dedicated
time, money,
resources –
something not all
nations can readily
afford
Influenza Virus Types
Influenzavirus A
Main cause of influenza pandemics
Two surface proteins: hemagglutinin (H) and
neuraminidase (N)
Type A virus makes a dramatic "shift” and
acquires a new H or H+N, causes a pandemic
Virus target birds, also other animals such as
pigs and horses, and even humans

Influenzavirus B
lack of Influenzavirus B cause influenza
pandemics

Influenzavirus C - Causes only mild disease

Impact to Our Lives
Social Consequences
Roles in society will be disrupted

Financial Damage
Hospital bills, vaccinations, allocation
of resources of institutions, etc

Hassle to life, as victims

First-world country approximations: 134-233 million out-
patient visits and 1.5-5.2 million hospital admissions

“Unfair” loss of lives

2 to 7.4 million deaths, according to Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) USA

…Imagine its impact on third-world countries like

ours
 Past
Pandemics
1918 Spanish Influenza
killed more Americans than all the wars of the 20th
century
Infected 20 - 40% of world population (more than 20
M people)
rapid, deadly spread: within 24 hours, victim could
be dead
common victims: 20-50 year old
high-risk victims: children, young adults, elderly
Black Death
1300s, Europe
Victimized a quarter of their population
said to have come from China, brought by
shipping/trading industry
Spread by fleas carried by rodents, which were common
as Europe was unhygeinic before
Wrecked European economy
 Past Pandemics
• Asian Influenza
– 1975 threat

Hong Kong Influenza

similar to Asian Influenza
– 1968, returned 1970, 1972
Highest mortality among elderly victims
People were more prepared; attack spread near
school holidays with most people safely isolated
in their own homes
33,000 deaths – mildest pandemic in 20th
century
 Past Pandemics
• Bird Flu – Avian
Influenza
(A/H5N1)
– 1997 and 1999
scare from Hong
Kong
infected a
hundred people,
18 were
hospitalized, 6
died
– acquired from
chickens
to prevent
 Past Pandemics

• SARS (Severe
Acute Respiratory
Syndrome)
– 2003, mainland
China
spread through
breathing;
international
travel
caused 800
deaths; no
 How the World Addresses the
Pandemic Scare
• Organization share expertise, monitor
world health, spread awareness,
preparedness, and support about it:
– World Health Organization (WHO)
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (NIAID)
– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)

International Health Regulations (IHR)

2005
Contains standard framework of
management of events and responses in
 How the World
Addresses the
• Pandemic
Spread Scare
awareness through campaigns
• Planning and Preparedness for
communities
WHO: Global Influenza Preparedness Plan
Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Checklist
– Open source databases for strategists

Prevention
Vaccines (but expensive)
– Better hygiene, surroundings
Research undertakings
 WHO Global Influenza
Preparedness Plan
Inter-pandemic phase Low risk of human cases Stag
es
New viruses in animals, Higher risk of human cases 1–2
no human cases
Pandemic alert No or very limited human- 3
to-human transmission
New virus causes human Evidence of increased 4
cases human-to-human
transmission
New virus causes human Evidence of significant 5
cases human-to-human
transmission
Pandemic Efficient and sustained 6
human-to-human
transmission

WHO states that we are now closer to an influenza pandemic

than ever before.
Epidemic and Pandemic Alert & Response
(EPR) Program
Diseases covered (WHO, 2008):
– Anthrax • Marburg
– Avian influenza haemorrhagic
Crimean-Congo fever
haemorrhagic
fever (CCHF)
• Meningococcal
Dengue/dengue disease
haemorrhagic • Plague
fever • Rift Valley fever
– Ebola
haemorrhagic SARS
fever • Smallpox
Hepatitis • Tularaemia
Influenza
• Yellow fever
– Lassa Fever
 Conclusion
• We now have what it takes to fight it off
or delay its effects.

Support research

As students: Awareness is key to survival!

Pandemics are a threat, but we can

keep it at that, and hopefully nothing
more.