CUMBERLAND - The Allegany County Health Department's Office of Public Health Preparedness has created wallet-sized pocket cards to remind residents to be prepared for pandemic influenza. Each home in Allegany County will receive two of the cards in the mail this week.

Experts say that it is not a matter of if a pandemic flu will happen, but when. A pandemic occurs when people all over the world get sick because they have no resistance to a new virus.

Planning has been taking place on the local, state and federal levels. It is important not only for the government and leaders of the community to be prepared, but for every individual to be ready.

A pandemic could arise from avian influenza, also known as bird flu. Avian influenzas are infections caused by flu viruses that happen naturally in birds. H5N1 is the bird flu virus that has been in the news; between 2003 and May 31, 2007, 309 people overseas have been infected with H5N1 and more than half of them have died.

The virus, however, does not easily spread human-to-human, and most people have contracted the virus from close contact with birds. Scientists are concerned that the virus may change and easily and quickly spread from human to human, resulting in a pandemic amongst humans.

Being prepared and staying informed about pandemic flu is the focus of the pocket cards. The cards include a panel on which residents can record their emergency contacts and medications.

"We ask that all residents take the time to fill in their personal emergency numbers and medications and place the card in their wallet," said Dr. Sue Raver, health officer. "Having this vital information with them in the time of an emergency could save their life or that of a loved one."

The card explains how you can find important health information during a pandemic or other health emergency. The health department, in collaboration with other agencies in the community, has created a siren icon that will notify the public that a public health emergency is imminent or in progress. The siren appears on the health department and community partners' Web sites.

In nonemergency times, the siren is blue, and will take Internet users to the Public Health Emergency Information page. The page contains information on pandemic flu and other public health emergencies.

In an emergency, the siren will be red and will indicate that there is important information that should be read. The page will then include updated information on the emergency, where you can find more information regarding the emergency and steps you can take to keep your family safe.

Also included on the card is information on healthy habits that you and your family can practice to help stop the spread of germs and a list of items that should be gathered and stored in an emergency kit.

For more information on pandemic flu and emergency preparedness, visit the Allegany County Health Department's Web site at www.alleganyhealthdept.com and click on the blue siren or call (301) 759-5019. Additional information on pandemic flu can also be found at the Department of Health and Human Service's pandemic flu Web site at pandemicflu.gov.