Pandemic influenza - Index Page

Plans and Guidelines 

Influenza

Avian influenza

Pandemic Influenza - Department of Premier and Cabinet

Documents for Health providers

An influenza pandemic will occur if all of the following conditions are present: 

• a new influenza A virus arises from a major genetic change
• the virus is highly virulent with the capacity to cause serious illness and death
• the population has little or no immunity; and,
• the virus is transmitted easily between people

When a new strain of influenza virus emerges, for which there is no or little immunity in the human population, an influenza pandemic occurs. The result being, the virus spreads rapidly  from person-to-person and with modern transportation modes, is able to infect whole populations' worldwide.

Much more severe than the effects seen from seasonal influenza, pandemic influenza results in high rates of illness and death and significant social and economic disruption.

Three influenza pandemics occurred during the 20th century, the “Spanish” (1918), “Asian” (1957) and “Hong Kong” (1968) pandemics. The Spanish pandemic resulted in 20-40 million or more deaths (mostly in young adults) worldwide, while the Asian and Hong Kong pandemics resulted in 1-4 million deaths (mostly in older adults) worldwide. By comparison, “inter-pandemic” influenza results in 0.5-2 million deaths (mostly in older adults) worldwide each year.

This site provides a range of resources to help support Western Australians prepare for the next influenza pandemic which, is considered inevitable by experts and overdue.