Title: Second International Avian and Human Influenza Simulation Exercise (2007)

Pages: 75; 

Abstract: The aims of the exercise are to a) explore the special relations a pandemic has when it comes to travellers and tourists in an international environment (foreign territory, crossing borders, etc.). b) increase awareness and to identify weaknesses of national contingency plans. c) facilitate intensive surveillance to reduce surprises. d) encourage fast and sincere reporting, allowing a rapid detection and implementation of control measures to interrupt transmission successfully. e) Train international interactions and evacuations as contingency planning and evacuation exercises are predominantly national business and usually not internationally coordinated.

Subjects: Public health measures and pandemic preparedness; Travel and trade

Title: Seroepidemiological Studies of Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Virus

Pages: 8; 

Description: The studies were designed to determine the prevalence of cross-reactive antibodies to the pandemic influenza virus prior to its appearance and to estimate the proportion of the population that was infected.

Abstract: In this review the methods and results of 9 studies of the seroprevalence of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus that have been published in peer-reviewed journals are examined, and the implications of such studies are discussed. These studies include data from 7 countries: China; China, Province of Taiwan; Finland; Germany; Singapore; the United Kingdom; and the United States of America.

Subjects: Laboratory; Surveillance and investigation

Title: Strategy to Enhance Influenza Surveillance Worldwide

Pages: 17; 

Abstract: The emergence of a novel strain of influenza virus A (H1N1) in April 2009 focused attention on influenza surveillance capabilities worldwide. In consultations before the 2009 outbreak of influenza subtype H1N1, the World Health Organization had concluded that the world was unprepared to respond to an influenza pandemic, due in part to inadequate global surveillance and response capacity. We describe a sentinel surveillance system that could enhance the quality of influenza epidemiologic and laboratory data and strengthen a country’s capacity for seasonal, novel, and pandemic influenza detection and prevention. Such a system would 1) provide data for a better understanding of the epidemiology and extent of seasonal influenza, 2) provide a platform for the study of other acute febrile respiratory illnesses, 3) provide virus isolates for the development of vaccines, 4) inform local pandemic planning and vaccine policy, 5) monitor influenza epidemics and pandemics, and 6) provide infrastructure for an early warning system for outbreaks of new virus subtypes.

Subjects: Public health measures and pandemic preparedness; Surveillance and investigation

Title: Third International Avian and Human Influenza Simulation Exercise (2008)

Pages: 86; 

Abstract: The aims of the exercise are a) Explore the specific implications a pandemic has related to travellers and tourism in an international environment (foreign territory, crossing borders, etc.); b) Increase awareness of and to identify weaknesses in national contingency plans, especially as they relate to the integration of tourism issues; c) Promote intensive surveillance to reduce surprises; d) Encourage fast and sincere reporting by government bodies responsible for early warning especially from the health but also tourism sectors, allowing a rapid detection and implementation of control measures to interrupt successfully the transmission of the virus; e) Provide training on the international dimension of coordination of contingency planning and response efforts (evacuations, social distancing, etc.) including the Concept of Operations for the UN System in an Influenza Pandemic.

Subjects: Public health measures and pandemic preparedness; Travel and trade

Title: Transmission Dynamics and Impact of Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Virus

Pages: 8; 

Abstract: Several countries that have experienced large epidemics caused by pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus have now shared their findings globally. These reports have been made publicly available through the web sites and official updates of ministries of health as well as through papers published in peer-reviewed literature. This report summarizes some of the key observations from selected countries regarding hospitalization rates, mortality rates and risk groups that may inform preparations being made for the winter influenza season in countries of the northern hemisphere.

Subjects: General; Surveillance and investigation

Title: Travel and Tourism Under Pandemic Conditions (2009)

Pages: 24; 

Abstract: The exercise was designed to identify and address the following: a) rapidly changing situation of the pandemic H1N1 (2009) virus; b) key challenges for the travel and tourism sector in response to the pandemic; c) repercussion of the pandemic on the travel and tourism sector; d) strategies to help limit the negative impacts on the travel and tourism sector.

Subjects: Public health measures and pandemic preparedness; Travel and trade

Title: WHO Global Technical Consultation: Global Standards and Tools for Influenza Surveillance

Pages: 45; 

Abstract: The influenza pandemic of 2009 highlighted many areas of influenza surveillance that require strengthening, one of the most important being standardized data collection and reporting systems. To this end, WHO organized a global consultation to review influenza surveillance standards and the current data-sharing and reporting tools, with the goal of preparing a manual of global standards and improving the reporting tools. This report summarizes the discussions and recommendations of that consultation with regard to the influenza surveillance manual and the tools for global surveillance.

Subjects: Surveillance and investigation