Phase 1-3: Predominantly Animal Infections.
In these phases, the influenza virus is contained, for the most part, to the animal population, in so-called "Animal to Animal" infections. Animal to Human infections can follow, with limited Human to Human infections. The majority of human
Infections in this phase occur because of contact with the infected animals, or because of contact with someone who has had contact with the infected animals.
Phase 4: Sustained Human To Human
This phase marks what is known as "community-level outbreaks," meaning the Human to Human infections become more widespread without the virus diminishing in strength or dying out. This phase is decidedly more dangerous than Phases 1-3, as the threat of pandemic is much higher if the infection has already spread throughout a locale.
Phase 5-6: Pandemic
Phase 5 marks the spread of the virus to 2 countries within 1 WHO-designated region, and is the strongest signal that a global pandemic is imminent. Phase 6 is the global pandemic itself, meaning that community-level outbreaks are seen in at least 1 other country in a different WHO region, in addition to the ones used to those defined in Phase 5. At this point, the organization of strategy to battle the virus will have been underway, and the treatment should be in full swing.
We’re apparently in stage 7...NOTHING WE CAN DO WILL STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!
Pretty quick stuff eh?!