A
| Antiviral medication A type of medicine that kills viruses after they enter the body |
Avian influenza Type of flu that affects wild and domestic birds, such as ducks, geese, chickens and turkeys, but may also affect humans
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B
| Bird flu See avian influenza |
C
Community health worker A person who works to improve the health of a group of people through actions such as outreach education, including the distribution of literature or public health materials
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Community-based health promotion A program that educates people in a community about ways to change their behaviors in order to improve their mental and physical health and well-being
Contagious Something that can be passed from one person to another, such as a virus
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E
Endemic Always present in a certain area
Epidemic A greater number of people affected by a disease in a certain area than normally expected
Epidemiology The study of how a disease affects a population, its causes and ways to develop prevention methods and treatments
Exposure When a person comes in contact with someone with a contagious health problem; increases the risk of catching an illness
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H
H5N1 The scientific name for a subtype of avian influenza virus that may spread from birds to humans
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I
Immune system Biological system that uses white blood cells and lymph nodes to fight diseases and protect the body from becoming sick
Immunity The body’s ability to resist infection from a disease
Immunization A vaccine that provides immunity against a disease
Infection A condition in which a disease comes in contact with the body and causes an irritation or illness
Influenza A contagious respiratory illness caused by particular strains of viruses (see avian influenza, pandemic influenza, seasonal influenza)
Isolation The act of separating people who are sick from others to reduce the chance that they will spread the disease
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M
Mitigation strategy Plans that are primarily non-medical that help to prevent the spread of disease or to minimize the impact of the spread of a disease
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P
Preparedness Taking steps before an emergency occurs in order to be ready, or prepared, for it
Pandemic influenza An outbreak of influenza that infects a large number of people in different parts of the world
Prevention Methods aimed at alleviating causes of harm, especially to health
Prevent To keep from happening or existing, such as steps to prevent the spread of a disease
Priority group A group of people that is more likely to become ill from a disease; therefore, when resources such as medications are limited, its members are the first ones to get the medication.
Protect To cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage or destruction; to guard
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Q
Quarantine The condition of separating and isolating someone who has been exposed to a disease and may be infected with it from the rest of the population
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R
Rapid diagnostic test A test that can quickly determine if someone has a disease
Response plan A plan for people, states, communities, governments, etc. to use in the event of an emergency, such as who to contact, what supplies people should have and where to go
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S
Seasonal influenza A contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses that causes mild to severe illness and can sometimes lead to death; most people have some immunity and an annual vaccine is available
Social distancing A strategy for reducing the number of interactions with large groups of people to prevent the spread of disease
Stockpile A large number of objects in one place with the intent to use them in the future, especially in case of an emergency
Symptom Signs, such as fever or stomachache, that reveal a person is ill
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T
Tamiflu An antiviral medication that may help shorten the length of time that a person has the flu
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V
Vaccination The act of giving a shot or pill that prevents a person from getting sick from a particular disease
Vaccine A shot that includes a weakened form of the virus to help the immune system develop immunity to a specific disease
Virus A tiny infectious agent that invades cells and can cause disease
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