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Significance of Flu

Influenza has important consequences for an affected community and its' public health services. As much as one half of a community can be affected at the height of a routine epidemic. Health care workers must be prepared for the extraordinary demands that an epidemic can place on a local health system. The number of cases usually peak in about 3 weeks and subside after another 3 or 4 weeks. During the 1997-1998 epidemic in California, a major Los Angeles hospital reported:

150-250 additional respiratory patients admitted to the ER per day
Some patients waited for 8-12 hours before being treated
Many patients brought family members, who crowded the facility
Irate family members required the intervention of security staff and police
Hospitals had to turn patients away due to lack of nursing staff and beds
911 activity was stretched to breaking
EMS diversions resulted in transfers to remote facilities, further delaying response time

Even a routine epidemic strains the US public health system. The typical epidemic results in 200,000 excess hospitalizations, approximately 36,000 deaths and an estimated $12 billion dollars in economic losses. In contrast, the CDC estimates the possible effects of the next influenza pandemic in the United States will involve 89,000 to 207,000 deaths; 314,000 to 734,000 hospitalizations; 18 to 42 million outpatient visits; and 20 to 47 million additional illnesses. The estimated economic impact would be $71.3 to $166.5 billion, excluding disruptions to commerce and society. Patients at high risk (15% of the population) would account for approximately 84% of all deaths.

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An ordinary flu epidemic will usually last 6-7 weeks.