- The flu is a disease caused by the influenza virus. It is extremely contagious, and every year there are seasonal flu epidemics throughout the world. Depending on the strain of the virus, it can cause fevers and chills, body aches, stuffy nose, soar throat, stomach pain, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, headaches and fatigue.
- Pandemic flu is more severe than seasonal flu. Seasonal flu kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide every year, but a pandemic can kill tens of millions. A seasonal flu can kill elderly people, very young children and others without strong immune systems. A pandemic can kill healthy young adults as well as the old and infirm. Pandemic flu will take longer to run its course and is more likely to lead to dangerous secondary infections like pneumonia.
- Pandemic flu is more difficult to prepare for than seasonal flu, which is usually a strain that people have been exposed to before. Most people will have partial immunity to the infection, and many countries will be able to cook up vaccinations to protect vulnerable people from the infection. A pandemic flu is usually a new strain and generally takes everyone by surprise. Scientists will have little or no time to prepare vaccines, leaving everyone vulnerable.
- Seasonal flu is an annual inconvenience, but pandemic is a rare catastrophe. There were only three flu pandemics in the 20th century, whereas there was a seasonal flu every year. During pandemics, travel is restricted, the global economy takes a dive and hospitals are unable to cope with the number of flu victims. On the other hand, even a bad seasonal flu doesn't cause that much damage on a global scale.
