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A contagious disease emergency could affect many people. It could cause mild illness, hospitalization, or death in rare cases. In the event of an infectious disease emergency, the Palm Beach County Health Department will provide up-to-date information and instructions to the public through media and public outreach sources. To find out how to prepare yourself and your family for a contagious disease emergency, visit the Center for Disease Control's Web page at http://www.bt.cdc.gov Pan Flu The concept of a pandemic influenza outbreak that renders 30% to 50% of the workforce incapacitated is difficult to grasp. However, the Centers for Disease Control have been quite emphatic that it is "not if, but when" such an outbreak will occur. The challenge for government at the federal, state and local levels is to develop plans that can provide assurance that essential government functions will continue. The Division of Emergency Management has obtained grant funding and initiated workshops to ensure that county government, as well as local municipalities, have been provided information needed to develop their plans to ensure the continuity of their operations in a pandemic influenza outbreak. In addition, plans are being finalized to provide guidance to the Executive Policy Group regarding protective action recommendations to minimize or slow the spread of the disease within the county. H1N1 What is H1N1? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states, "Novel H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of novel H1N1 flu was underway." There is a lot of information circulating about H1N1 below are some links and PDF's that will help you stay informed: 
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