Influenza Primer
"What to Expect from the Next Influenza Pandemic"
Scientists have released information regarding how detrimental another influenza outbreak will be. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates what we should expect based on previous influenza pandemics. The CDC believes that the United States will suffer economic losses that will range from $71 billion to $166 billion. The economic loss is based on the care that is going to be needed.
The CDC predicts between 40 and 100 million people will become ill; 18 to 45 million will need to receive outpatient care; 300,000 to 800,000 will be hospitalized, and an estimated 88,000 and 300,000 will succumb to this outbreak. Based on these estimates, the CDC believes that planning ahead for the next expected pandemic is imperative. If we prepare ahead we can all but try and reduce mortality and morbidity, and minimize social disruption of people's everyday lives.
