Seasonal influenza and its complications send, on average 20,000 Canadians to hospital each year and cause 4,000 deaths. Pandemics occur when a new strain of the influenza virus appears to which humans have little or no pre-existing immunity. This strain usually spreads quickly from person to person across a wide geographical area. Despite the impossibility of predicting where and when the next pandemic might occur or how virulent the virus will be, governments and international bodies must be prepared with plans to help minimize the health, social and economic consequences of such an event.
The Expert Panel on Influenza and Personal Protective Respiratory Equipment
