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Definition of a Pandemic according to Wikipedia:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a pandemic can start when three conditions have been met:

* the emergence of a disease new to the population.
* the agents infects humans, causing serious illness.
* the agents spreads easily and sustainably among humans.

A disease or condition is not a pandemic merely because it is widespread or kills many people; it must also be infectious.

Key:

Blue: 1 or fewer per 1000 people
Green: 50 per 1,000 people
Red: 100 or more cases per 1,000 people

This is a simulation of a pandemic flu outbreak in the continental US. In this simulation, the outbreak was initially introduced by the arrival of just 10 infected individuals in LA. This is what scientists feel we would see within 90 days time.

Because of the widespread and sustained nature of a pandemic, federal assistance will be taxed and local jurisdictions will have to develop their own preparedness plans to make sure they are able to care for their citizens.

Individuals and families who can do so should do their best to prepare for a disaster like this. Stockpiling several weeks’ worth of food, water, paper goods, batteries medicines, and other needed supplies, is a very prudent idea. In fact, it has even been suggested that the middle class and the wealthy have a responsibility to prepare for self-sufficiency in order to make available the scarce supplies for those too poor or otherwise vulnerable to prepare themselves.

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