Introduction to Influenza (flu)

Welcome to the City of Milwaukee Health Department's (MHD) main influenza page. Here you will find important information about the different types of influenza and how to protect yourself and your family from it.

In the news

For information about the ongoing investigation related to human swine flu, click here.

Preventing the flu

One of the most effective ways to prevent the flu and other illnesses is by practicing good hygiene and by staying home when you or your family are sick!

Be sure to wash your hands frequently, and always use a tissue to cover coughs and sneezes. For more Information visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website by clicking here or the State of Wisconsin Department Health Services website by clicking here.

Click on one of the the following links for information about:

Proper handwashing technique and cough eitquette (Spanish) (Hmong)

Wearing a mask in healthcare facilities and other settings (Spanish) (Hmong)

Types of Flu

Seasonal flu

Each flu season in the United States, there are approximately 36,000 deaths from Influenza. Some of these deaths occur among the very young ("pediatric") and the very old, or those with underlying health conditions. For more information about seasonal flu click here.

Pandemic flu

Pandemic Influenza is a worldwide outbreak of a new type of flu. This flu virus would be different than the normal, seasonal flu virus that affects people every year. Because the virus is new, it is expected that many people will become sick and that the virus will be easily passed from person-to-person. Pandemic flu may cause serious illness and affect many parts of the world in a short amount of time. At this time, there is no pandemic influenza in the world. However, pandemics happen naturally throughout history and have occurred three times in the past 100 years: in 1918, 1957, and 1968.

• The Spanish Flu of 1918 is widely considered to be the most severe pandemic of the 20^th century. Some reports suggest that as much as 20-40% of people in the world became sick and that 50 million died, globally. During the Spanish Flu, adults between 20-50 years old were the most vulnerable to the disease.
• The Asian Flu of 1957 was much less deadly than the Spanish Flu some 40 years before. Due to advances in science and technology the virus strain was quickly identified. In the U.S., approximately 69,800 people died from the Asian Flu
• The Hong Kong Flu of 1968 was the mildest of the pandemics and made it to the U.S. by September of 1968, with widespread illness taking place around December. The highest number of deaths occurred between December of 1968 and January of 1969, estimated to be at 33,800 in the U.S. But the virus returned again in 1970 and 1972.

Avian (bird) flu

Avian influenza viruses are caused by influenza A viruses and occur naturally among birds. There are different subtypes of influenza A viruses. All known subtypes can be found in birds. The current influenza A subtype that has caused worldwide concern is the H5N1 subtype. Wild birds carry avian influenza viruses in their bodies, but do not get sick from them. However, avian influenza viruses can be passed very easily from bird to bird and can make domesticated birds, such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks very sick and kill them. 

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