Influenza outbreaks have reached pandemic status three times in the past 100 years, with the most severe occurring in the winter of 1918-1919. Although our medications and treatments are better now than they were 100 years ago, we still must take precautions to reduce flu-related deaths.

A pandemic, or a worldwide epidemic, occurs when a new virus is introduced into the population. The population has no natural resistance to this virus, causing many people to become seriously ill. Such is the case with an avian flu. There is a concern that the H5N1 strain of influenza, now effecting birds in Africa, Asia and Europe, could mutate. Cases of H5N1 influenza have been documented in humans, resulting from human-to-animal contact, in several countries. If this virus mutates to a strain of influenza that can be passed through human-to-human contact, a pandemic may occur.

Most Job Corps students live in close quarters, making them targets for any contagious illness, including the flu. No one can know for certain what this season will bring, but Job Corps centers need to be prepared to handle a severe outbreak.

This website is designed to help Job Corps center staff prevent widespread influenza outbreaks, to minimize the spread of influenza and other diseases, and to help centers prepare for a flu epidemic. It will be updated periodically as circumstances require.

For general flu information, visit the CDC Influenza website or the governments new Pandemic flu website.