Trust for America's Health Initiatives

Pandemic Flu

Pandemic Flu

Scientists around the globe continue to warn the public about the risk of a potential pandemic influenza outbreak, which typically strikes three to four times a century. Pandemic flu is caused by a strain of flu virus that is capable of producing severe disease and spreading rapidly person-to-person worldwide. Unlike the seasonal flu, a pandemic flu virus poses a novel threat. Since humans have no previously developed immunity against pandemic flu, this virus strain puts most people at high risk of infection. This could result in a large percentage of the world's population being infected by a rapidly spreading virus in a very short period of time. Though considerable progress has been made in the last few years, much more must be done to prepare for a pandemic.

Experts predict a severe pandemic flu outbreak could result in up to 1.9 million deaths in the United States, approximately 9.9 million Americans needing to be hospitalized, and an economic recession with losses of over $680 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.

TFAH has outlined recommendations for policymakers on ways to better prepare the country for a possible pandemic outbreak. TFAH issued a series of reports and created the Working Group on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness with more than 40 other organizations. We also created a series of brochures for families, medical providers, businesses, and community leaders who want to learn more about how to prepare for a possible pandemic.

RSS Pandemic Flu RSS Feed

Policy Information

July 2011
TFAH Comments on Influenza Vaccination Standards in Medicare-Participating Hospitals

June 2009
TFAH's Statement for the Record on Healthy Families Act

May 2009
Jeffrey Levi's Testimony on Protecting the Federal Workfroce from Pandemic Influenza

May 2009
Working Group on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Letter in Support of Emergency Supplemental Funds

May 2009
Pandemic Influenza: Priorities for the Obama Administration and Congress

April 2009
Working Group on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Letter in Support of FY10 Appropriations

More policy information

Press Releases

November 10, 2010
New Report Finds H1N1 Hospitalization Rates Higher But Vaccination Rates Lower for Minorities

November 10, 2010
Nuevo Informe Revela que Entre Minorías las Tasas de Hospitalización por Gripe H1N1 son Mayores, Pero Tasas De Vacunación son Menores

September 21, 2010
TFAH Commends CDC for New Strengthening the Nation’s Emergency Response State by State Report

December 15, 2009
New Report: H1N1 Reveals Gaps in Nation’s Emergency Health Preparedness Efforts; Twenty States Score Six or Less Out of Ten Key Indicators

November 18, 2009
Trust for America’s Health Testifies before Congress on H1N1 Vaccine Distribution

More press releases

Resources

Selected items from TFAH's Resource Library:

Business Flu Brochure
It's Not Flu As Usual - What Businesses Need to Know About Pandemic Flu Planning

Center for Bio Security
The Center for Biosecurity is an independent, nonprofit organization of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). The Center works to affect policy and practice in ways that lessen the illness, death, and civil disruption that would follow large-scale epidemics, whether they occur naturally or result from the use of a biological weapon.

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
Part of the Academic Health Center at the University of Minnesota, CIDRAP fosters the adoption of science-based best practices in public health and conducts original interdisciplinary research.

Faith Based Community Flu Brochure
It's Not Flu As Usual: What Faith-Based and Community Organizations Need to Know About Pandemic Flu

Flu Wiki Forum
An online collaboration that allows anyone (including you) to edit any page on the website. The purpose of the Flu Wiki is to help local communities prepare for and perhaps eventually cope with a possible influenza pandemic.

More resources