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| back | | Disease Outbreaks | | |  Health care professionals are constantly on the alert for new diseases. Philadelphia has made plans so we can act quickly if any disease outbreaks and biological emergencies happen. The City is working in cooperation with State and Federal agencies to respond immediately to any threat.
Current Natural Threats include:
West Nile Virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes that can infect humans, birds, horses and other animals. In most cases, WNV can cause flu-like illness or may cause no symptoms at all. However, in some cases, particularly among the elderly, it can cause serious encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). Learn more about what you can do to protect yourself and your family at www.cdc.gov Fight the bite!
Pandemic Influenza is a global outbreak that could be caused by a new flu virus-not the seasonal flu that affects people every year. The new flu virus will be different from the seasonal flu that affects people every year. Pandemic influenza may spread easily from person to person, causing serious illness and affecting many people around the world in a short period of time. There is no pandemic influenza in the world at this time.
Man-Made Threats
Not all diseases are spread naturally. A bioterrorism attack is the planned use of a virus, toxin, or bacteria against people, animals or plants to cause fear or harm. Many agents must be inhaled, enter through a cut in the skin, or be eaten to cause sickness. Some biological agents, such as anthrax, do not cause contagious diseases. Others, like the smallpox virus, can result in diseases you can catch from other people.
Many diseases can be treated and controlled with medications and vaccines. If there is a biological attack or disease outbreak, Philadelphia will distribute medication or administer vaccines to those who are at risk. If needed, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health is ready to provide medicine or a vaccine to the entire population of Philadelphia within 48 hours, if the medications or vaccines are available from the Federal government. To distribute treatment or vaccine, the City may open Points of Dispensing (PODs). If PODs are activated, you may locate the one closest to you by listening to KYW 1060 AM, or accessing www.phila.gov/ready.
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