Experts tell us that it is not a matter of if a pandemic will hit, it's a matter of when. It does tend to go in cycles. If a pandemic reaches Idaho soil, state health experts estimate up to 25 percent of our state's population could be infected and become ill. We could see as many as 2,300 people die from flu-related illnesses and more than 10,000 people hospitalized. |
In 1918, it was 20- and 30-year-olds, but we won't know which group is being affected until a pandemic is actually under way. |
There are a lot of factors we didn't deal with before. You can travel halfway around the world and come back in a week. Illnesses that may have taken months to work their way around the globe can now happen in weeks. |
There are flu bugs out there we're keeping an eye on. It only takes the right circumstances to grab hold and spread. |
This is the only report that's being investigated in our area at this time. |