The influenza challenge
1
INVITED SPEAKER PRESENTATION Open Access The influenza challenge Tim Nguyen, Sylvie Briand * From 16 th International Symposium on HIV and Emerging Infectious Diseases Marseille, France. 24-26 March 2010 The presentation aims at introducing the various chal- lenges faced at global level during the first pandemic of the 21st century. On 25 April 2009, Mexico, under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR (2005)), notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of influenza-like illness. The responsible virus was iden- tified a few days later by a WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza and a reference laboratory in Canada. This was the first reported event related to Influenza A (H1N1). In less than nine weeks, the pandemic virus spread in the six WHO regions. On 11 June 2009, WHO announced a pandemic phase 6. Because of the threat posed by the re emergence of A(H5N1)virus in 2003 in Asia, most of the influenza experts and modellers were predicting that the next pandemic would start in Asia with similar characteristic as the H5N1 disease currently observed with a high case fatality ratio. One of the lessons learned is that predic- tions are very difficult when related to influenza viruses due their unpredictable evolution and the complexity of factors leading to pandemic. The pandemic (H1N1) 09 is challenging in many aspects: firstly, the uncertainty about the evolution of the virus makes mid term preparedness and planning difficult. Secondly, the weakness of some surveillance system does not allow an easy monitoring of the disease and its spread. The oseltamivir resistance monitoring has also been difficult in some parts of the world. Thirdly, the modern communications means enable rumours to spread faster than ever. Public health autho- rities have to include risk communication in their strat- egy to respond to the outbreak. The nature of this pandemic with moderate severity and very rapid spread imposed to revise national pan- demic preparedness plans during the course of the event. The public and the media often misunderstood the rational for the modification. The international community has responded quite well to the pandemic threat. In particular, countries have been especially collaborative regarding the exchange of information and the global access to sup- plies such as vaccine and antiviral drugs. Published: 11 May 2010 doi:10.1186/1742-4690-7-S1-I3 Cite this article as: Nguyen and Briand: The influenza challenge. Retrovirology 2010 7(Suppl 1):I3. Submit your next manuscript to BioMed Central and take full advantage of: • Convenient online submission • Thorough peer review • No space constraints or color figure charges • Immediate publication on acceptance • Inclusion in PubMed, CAS, Scopus and Google Scholar • Research which is freely available for redistribution Submit your manuscript at www.biomedcentral.com/submit Global Influenza Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland Nguyen and Briand Retrovirology 2010, 7(Suppl 1):I3 http://www.retrovirology.com/content/7/S1/I3 © 2010 Nguyen and Briand; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
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Transcript of The influenza challenge
INVITED SPEAKER PRESENTATION Open Access
The influenza challengeTim Nguyen, Sylvie Briand*
From 16th International Symposium on HIV and Emerging Infectious DiseasesMarseille, France. 24-26 March 2010
The presentation aims at introducing the various chal-lenges faced at global level during the first pandemic ofthe 21st century.On 25 April 2009, Mexico, under the International
Health Regulations (2005) (IHR (2005)), notified theWorld Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreakof influenza-like illness. The responsible virus was iden-tified a few days later by a WHO Collaborating Centrefor Reference and Research on Influenza and a referencelaboratory in Canada. This was the first reported eventrelated to Influenza A (H1N1). In less than nine weeks,the pandemic virus spread in the six WHO regions. On11 June 2009, WHO announced a pandemic phase 6.Because of the threat posed by the re emergence of
A(H5N1)virus in 2003 in Asia, most of the influenzaexperts and modellers were predicting that the nextpandemic would start in Asia with similar characteristicas the H5N1 disease currently observed with a high casefatality ratio. One of the lessons learned is that predic-tions are very difficult when related to influenza virusesdue their unpredictable evolution and the complexity offactors leading to pandemic.The pandemic (H1N1) 09 is challenging in many
aspects: firstly, the uncertainty about the evolution ofthe virus makes mid term preparedness and planningdifficult.Secondly, the weakness of some surveillance system
does not allow an easy monitoring of the disease and itsspread. The oseltamivir resistance monitoring has alsobeen difficult in some parts of the world.Thirdly, the modern communications means enable
rumours to spread faster than ever. Public health autho-rities have to include risk communication in their strat-egy to respond to the outbreak.The nature of this pandemic with moderate severity
and very rapid spread imposed to revise national pan-demic preparedness plans during the course of the
event. The public and the media often misunderstoodthe rational for the modification.The international community has responded quite
well to the pandemic threat. In particular, countrieshave been especially collaborative regarding theexchange of information and the global access to sup-plies such as vaccine and antiviral drugs.
Published: 11 May 2010
doi:10.1186/1742-4690-7-S1-I3Cite this article as: Nguyen and Briand: The influenza challenge.Retrovirology 2010 7(Suppl 1):I3.
Submit your next manuscript to BioMed Centraland take full advantage of:
• Convenient online submission
• Thorough peer review
• No space constraints or color figure charges
• Immediate publication on acceptance
• Inclusion in PubMed, CAS, Scopus and Google Scholar
• Research which is freely available for redistribution
Submit your manuscript at www.biomedcentral.com/submit
Global Influenza Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva,Switzerland
Nguyen and Briand Retrovirology 2010, 7(Suppl 1):I3http://www.retrovirology.com/content/7/S1/I3
© 2010 Nguyen and Briand; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
