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Flu Terms Defined
Seasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness
that can be transmitted person to person. Most
people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available.
Avian (or bird) flu is caused by influenza viruses
that occur naturally among wild birds. The H5N1
variant is deadly to domestic fowl and can be
transmitted from birds to humans. There is no
human immunity and no vaccine is available.
Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes
a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness.
Because there is little natural immunity, the
disease can spread easily from person to person.
Currently, there is no pandemic flu.
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