WHO meeting makes progress on pandemic containment plan
9/3/2006 14:28
An operational plan to contain an initial outbreak of human pandemic
influenza moved closer to final form when public health experts concluded three
days of discussion in Geneva yesterday.
The meeting, participated by some 70
experts, was organized and hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
"A
human influenza pandemic will be a big problem, but by working together we can
respond effectively," Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO assistant director-general for
communicable diseases, was quoted as saying in a press release.
The H5N1
virus is being closely monitored because, theoretically, it may mutate to become
easily transmissible between humans. This would spark a human influenza pandemic
and trigger the attempt at containment, the press release said.
According to
the press release, although containing a pandemic at its source has never been
tried, evidence suggests that it may be possible.
The first outbreak of the
avian influenza virus H5N1 was contained in Hong Kong in 1997 when the then
public health director Dr. Margaret Chan ordered the destruction of all poultry
in Hong Kong.
The containment of SARS in 2003 also demonstrated that
coordinated global action could stop the emergence of a new infectious
disease.
Last summer, theoretical models were published showing that
containment of a human influenza pandemic might be possible.
The modeling
papers indicated that containing a pandemic at its source required coordinated
action focused on a small area within days of the emergence of the new
virus.
Success, according to the modeling papers, would be dependent on many
factors, including early detection of the new virus, swift mobilization of
resources, and compliance by the target population.
Thus this week's Geneva
meeting was focused on three areas: logistics, surveillance and public health
measures needed to accomplish these goals.
"It may be that containment
efforts would only slow the spread of a pandemic," said Dr. Chan.
"But even
that will buy us time so that countries can begin activating their pandemic
preparedness plans and companies can begin on the lengthy process of
manufacturing an effective human pandemic vaccine," she said.
The formal
results of this week's meeting will be circulated for review by WHO members and
posted on the web as soon as they are ready, the press release
said.
Xinhua
|
