Pandemic preparedness and response

Abstract

The origin of influenza pandemic preparedness can be traced to organized societal responses to outbreaks of infectious disease from the fourteenth century onwards, but has been most influenced by recent threats such as avian influenza A(H5N1) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The overall purpose is to plan, organize, and coordinate activities necessary to respond to all aspects of a pandemic. A national pandemic plan should serve as an overarching strategy, beneath which sub-national and local operational plans are established and tested. Approaches to pandemic preparedness vary but are underpinned by essential common elements. The 2009 A(H1N1) pandemic response was guided by extensive national and international advance planning, and the first in which both vaccines and antiviral drugs were widely available; it was also mild and did not fully test all systems. Future pandemic threats from influenza viruses in the animal kingdom drive the need for continuing preparedness efforts.