Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response
In: Refugee survey quarterly, Band 25, Heft 4, S. 100-103
ISSN: 1471-695X
The word "pandemic" is derived from the Greek -- "pan" meaning all & "demos" meaning people. Indeed, when a pandemic strikes, anyone is vulnerable, regardless of gender, race, class, etc. A pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges & starts spreading as easily as normal influenza -- by coughing & sneezing. Because the virus is new, the human immune system will have no pre-existing immunity. This makes it likely that people who contract pandemic influenza will experience more serious disease than that caused by normal influenza. Adapted from the source document.