The situation room: A step-by-step procedure toward pandemic influenza preparedness

Abstract

In the context of public health surveillance, the situation room might be playing an interesting role as a strategy for early alert and follow-up of a specific public health event and its determinants. The implementation and proper functioning of an influenza situation room monitoring seasonal and pandemic influenza or any other public health event could help to mitigate the impact of the next pandemic on public health in any country, regardless of its level of economic development. This paper suggests some basic steps for implementing an influenza situation room as a strategy of prevention of diseases with the potential to cause new or worsening human pandemics. Copyright © 2009 Castro-Jiménez et al.