Pandemic Influenza
An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of a new influenza A virus. Pandemics happen when new (novel) influenza A viruses emerge which are able to infect people easily and spread from person to person in an efficient and sustained way. The United States is NOT currently experiencing an influenza pandemic. CDC influenza programs protect [1.1 MB, 2 pages, 508] the United States from seasonal influenza and an influenza pandemic, which occurs when a new flu virus emerges that can infect people and spread globally.
New Resources
1918 Pandemic Flu Commemoration
100 years later, read about the 1918 pandemic flu and the advancements in flu prevention efforts since then.
CDC Pandemic Tools
Find tools to help hospital administrators and state and local health officials prepare for the next influenza pandemic.
- Page last reviewed: October 6, 2017
- Page last updated: October 6, 2017
- Content source:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
- Page maintained by: Office of the Associate Director for Communication, Digital Media Branch, Division of Public Affairs