[EQ] Pandemic Influenza: A Guide to Recent US Institute of Medicine Studies

Pandemic Influenza: A Guide to Recent Institute of Medicine IOM Studies and Workshops

IOM May 2009

 

“….Cases of the novel strain of H1N1 (Swine Origin [SO]) influenza that spread rapidly through Mexico in April 2009 now span the globe, and pandemic response plans are being activated to meet the threat to public health. In the past several years, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has released a number of reports and workshop summaries related to major policy issues for pandemic influenza and other infectious disease threats similar to the current spread of H1N1 (SO) influenza.

 

This guide highlights action and information that could be useful for near-term implementation of pandemic planning and response in the following areas:

·         Communicating with and engaging the public

·         Use of masks and personal protective equipment

·         Use of antiviral drugs and vaccines

·         Outbreak mitigation (e.g., social distancing, school closures)

·         Surveillance, research, and evaluation during a pandemic

The guide is available at: http://bit.ly/Zn2lD

In addition, President Harvey V. Fineberg has made his book on the 1976 swine flu outbreak, The Swine Flu Affair: Decision-Making on a Slippery Disease , available as a free PDF. The book examines the U.S. government's swine flu immunization program in the wake of an outbreak of the disease among a small group of soldiers at Fort Dix. The program was marked by controversy, delay, administrative troubles, legal complications, unforeseen side effects and a progressive loss of credibility for public health authorities. The book extracts lessons to help cope with similar situations in the future.

The report is available for download as a free PDF.

Discussed in this brief : http://www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/66/249/Pandemic_influenza_brief1.pdf

       Antivirals for Pandemic Influenza: Guidance on Developing a Distribution and Dispensing Program (2008)

       Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic: Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers (2008)

       Reusability of Facemasks During an Influenza Pandemic: Facing the Flu (2006)

       Modeling Community Containment for Pandemic Influenza, A Letter Report (2006)

       Ethical and Legal Considerations in Mitigating Pandemic Disease: Workshop Summary - Forum on Microbial Threats (2007)

       The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? Workshop Summary - Forum on Microbial Threats (2004)

       John R. La Montagne Memorial Symposium on Pandemic Influenza Research: Meeting Proceedings (2005)

       Dispensing Medical Countermeasures for Public Health Emergencies: Workshop Summary (2008)

       Learning from SARS: Preparing for the Next Disease Outbreak -- Workshop Summary (2004)

       DoD-GEIS Influenza Programs: Strengthening Global Surveillance and Response (2007)

Relevant to pandemic influenza and/or other infectious disease threats

       Global Infectious Disease Surveillance and Detection: Assessing the Challenges -- Finding Solutions, Workshop Summary (2007)

       Microbial Threats to Health: Emergence, Detection, and Response (2005)

       The Impact of Globalization on Infectious Disease Emergence and Control: Exploring the Consequences and Opportunities, Workshop Summary (Forum on Microbial Threats) (2006)

       Vector-Borne Diseases: Understanding the Environmental, Human Health, and Ecological Connections, Workshop Summary (Forum on Microbial Threats) (2008

 

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