Hat tip Fla Medic and Shiloh -
"The H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has been confirmed in more than 60 countries during the past three years. The virus is capable of infecting and causing severe illness in humans, with more than 350 sporadic cases reported (over 240 have died). Governments have become increasingly alert to the possibility that this virus could undergo genetic
change and become capable of sustained transmission between humans, triggering an influenza pandemic.
A severe influenza pandemic would have significant consequences for the whole of society. The world experienced three pandemics in the 20th century, one of which (1918?19) resulted in widespread loss of life and had serious economic and social impacts. History suggests that there will be another influenza pandemic at some time in the future; its impact could be greatly reduced by preparing to ensure continuity of essential services, governance, economic activity, transportation and health care. The alternative ? as with any crisis ? is that vulnerable people suffer unnecessarily.
Prompted by concerns resulting from the spread of avian influenza, almost all the world?s nations have now developed national pandemic preparedness plans. The nature and scope of these plans varies: while most address medical and public health responses, many do not yet
indicate how essential services will continue to operate under pandemic conditions, nor do they prepare sufficiently for a pandemic?s economic, humanitarian and societal consequences.
The United Nations system advocates multisectoral pandemic preparedness at local, provincial and national levels with the involvement of government, civil society, private entities and the media. In our experience, the testing of pandemic preparation ? through simulation
exercises ? is the most effective and efficient way to validate assumptions, examine capacity and ensure an optimal state of readiness.
Many national governments within the Asia-Pacific region have initiated actions to prepare for the next influenza pandemic. They are making provisions to ensure that they can contain it at source and respond to exceptional needs. They need to ensure that essential services will
continue to operate under conditions of high absenteeism, diminished supply lines and altered demand. These governments have built considerable experience with simulation exercises...."
"The H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has been confirmed in more than 60 countries during the past three years. The virus is capable of infecting and causing severe illness in humans, with more than 350 sporadic cases reported (over 240 have died). Governments have become increasingly alert to the possibility that this virus could undergo genetic
change and become capable of sustained transmission between humans, triggering an influenza pandemic.
A severe influenza pandemic would have significant consequences for the whole of society. The world experienced three pandemics in the 20th century, one of which (1918?19) resulted in widespread loss of life and had serious economic and social impacts. History suggests that there will be another influenza pandemic at some time in the future; its impact could be greatly reduced by preparing to ensure continuity of essential services, governance, economic activity, transportation and health care. The alternative ? as with any crisis ? is that vulnerable people suffer unnecessarily.
Prompted by concerns resulting from the spread of avian influenza, almost all the world?s nations have now developed national pandemic preparedness plans. The nature and scope of these plans varies: while most address medical and public health responses, many do not yet
indicate how essential services will continue to operate under pandemic conditions, nor do they prepare sufficiently for a pandemic?s economic, humanitarian and societal consequences.
The United Nations system advocates multisectoral pandemic preparedness at local, provincial and national levels with the involvement of government, civil society, private entities and the media. In our experience, the testing of pandemic preparation ? through simulation
exercises ? is the most effective and efficient way to validate assumptions, examine capacity and ensure an optimal state of readiness.
Many national governments within the Asia-Pacific region have initiated actions to prepare for the next influenza pandemic. They are making provisions to ensure that they can contain it at source and respond to exceptional needs. They need to ensure that essential services will
continue to operate under conditions of high absenteeism, diminished supply lines and altered demand. These governments have built considerable experience with simulation exercises...."
Comment