An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus appears against which the human population has no immunity, resulting in several, simultaneous epidemics worldwide with enormous numbers of deaths and illness.
Many experts are presenting evidence that supports that the world is now closer to a flu pandemic than it has been at any time since 1968.
Even if the cause of the next pandemic and the potential magnitude are still uncertain, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that in the best case scenario, 2 to 7 million people would die globally. In developed countries alone, models project a demand for 134-233 million outpatient visits and 1.5-5.2 million hospital admissions, according to Klaus Stohr, Head of the WHO GLobal Programme on Influenza.
An influenza pandemic will affect medical services and other essential community services such as public transport, police, fire brigades, traffic control, teachers, petrol stations. It has the potential to ignite social and political disruption and cause considerable economic losses.
The WHO has addressed the main components of an adequate national pandemic preparedness plan which can greatly mitigate the impact of an influenza pandemic:
Preparing and planning;
Detection and surveillance;
Case investigation and treatment;
Preventing the spread of the disease throughout the countries;
Maintaining essential services, including healthcare;
Research and evaluation;
Implementation, testing and revision on plans.
The WHO has indeed published a checklist which is an assessment tool for preparedness plans. The checklist contains five key steps to be implemented at national, EU and international level.
As regard to the current avian flu H5N1 threat, the WHO is urging all governments to draw up and implement a national preparedness plan and to strengthen global influenza surveillance.
Read more:
Related EPHA article on Avian Influenza
Related Briefing note on Influenza
A report from a WHO-EC workshop on Avian Influenza can be downloaded (members only)
Information on Influenza from the European Commission
World Health Organisation website on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness planning
