Credit WHO
# 7382
With three viruses in circulation with feared pandemic potential (H5N1, H7N9, MERS-CoV), it is good timing that the World Health Organization has published their updated (interim) guidance on influenza (and other) pandemics.
New is a 4 tier pandemic alert system:
- Interpandemic Phase
- Alert Phase
- Pandemic Phase
- Transition Phase
We are currently in the Alert Phase for H5N1, H7N9, and the MERS coronavirus, which places the world’s health agencies in a mixed preparedness and response mode.
I’ve only just downloaded the 60 page document, and have not had time to read it. But here are the links to get you started.
WHO Interim Guidance
Pandemic Influenza Risk Management
Publication details
Publication date: May 2013
Languages: EnglishDownloads
Overview
This interim guidance replaces the 2009 Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response: a WHO guidance document.
Key highlights include the following:
- Focus upon risk assessment at national level to guide national level actions
- Revised approach to global phases
- Flexibility through uncoupling of national actions from global phases
- Inclusion of principles of emergency risk management for health
- New and updated annexes on planning assumptions, ethical considerations, whole-of-society approach, business continuity planning, representative parameters for core severity indicators, and containment measures.
The guidance has been released in this interim form in order to support the risk management of pandemic threats, at the request of Member States.
