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Pandemic Preparedness

Pandemic Preparedness. FAO/ OIE/ WHO Technical Meeting on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, 27-29 June, 2007, Rome. Paul Gully WHO HQ Geneva . Overview. Sporadic human infections, continue to reflect animal outbreaks Technical dilemma: pandemic risk remains & will persist

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Pandemic Preparedness

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  1. Pandemic Preparedness FAO/ OIE/ WHO Technical Meeting on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, 27-29 June, 2007, Rome. Paul Gully WHO HQ Geneva

  2. Overview • Sporadic human infections, continue to reflect animal outbreaks • Technical dilemma: • pandemic risk remains & will persist • evolution & severity of the threat cannot be predicted • need to "de-link" the threat posed by H5N1 and the absolute requirement to prepare for a pandemic • Political dilemma: • limited resources • competing health and other priorities • Public Health advocacy: • investment in pandemic preparedness is an investment in the resilience of health systems and society to respond to many crises & pathogens, including influenza

  3. WHO Strategic Action plan: 5 key areas that concern human health • Reduce human exposure to H5N1 virus • Reduce mortality and morbidity • Reduce chance of re-assortment • Strengthen early warning system • Ensure data + clinical specimens available for risk assessment • Intensify rapid containment operations • Build capacity to cope with pandemic • National Pandemic Preparedness Plans including non-health sector preparedness • WHO role in a pandemic • Collaboration with other UN Agencies and NGOs • Coordinate global scientific research & vaccine development • Novel influenza virus & Pandemic vaccines, antiviral drugs • Community mitigation strategies

  4. Progress • Globally, great progress has been made in pandemic preparedness, experience gained and gaps identified • Majority countries have Pandemic Preparedness Plans • Wide variations in completeness • Technical and resource needs vary • Often resource poor environments have fragile infrastructure and information systems • IHR (2005) should assist in strengthening their capacities • Ethical issues should be fully explored and communicated

  5. The future:building on experience, addressing gaps • Continuation of original areas of work • Wider scope: cross governmental and multi-sectorial • Operational • Test and review plans through exercise process • Resilience of the health system • Inclusion of Rapid Containment in national plan • Community mitigation • population must be informed and engaged • national authorities cannot respond to all communities simultaneously

  6. Conclusion • Pandemic preparedness activities should be continued & expanded in scope and depth from central to local level, across governments and sectors • Gaps identified need to be addressed, specifically health systems, community preparedness & Rapid Containment inclusion in National Influenza Preparedness Plans • Funding streams need to be identified • WHO activities will continue in close collaboration with international partners, UNSIC & UN humanitarian agencies. Collaboration at country level through UN country teams is vital for WHO country representatives and Regional Offices • Investment should not be seen as disease specific but as a contribution to the resilience of society and health systems to respond to many crises

  7. Thank you

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