 | Description: Background papers discussing key ethical issues for pandemic preparedness and response Abstract: In March 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened four working groups to review the literature and develop preliminary conclusions on key ethical issues in pandemic preparedness and response. This volume includes the background papers prepared by these working groups and include: 1) equitable access to therapeutic and prophylactic measures; 2) isolation, quarantine, border control, and social distancing; 3) role and obligations of health-care workers during an influenza pandemic; and 4) pandemic influenza planning and response – transnational issues for governments. Related documents: Ethical Considerations in Developing a Public Health Response to Pandemic Influenza | |
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 | Pages: 1; Description: The algorithm assists tertiary health care facilities to appropriately triage cases of pandemic influenza. Abstract: The algorithm specifies the process of triaging influenza patients for differing treatments including referral back to home care. The algorithm also highlights the infection control measures at each step of patient management. Related documents: Algorithm for Clinical Management of Patients at the Primary Health Care Level | |
 | Description: This guidance provides updated information for health care providers managing patients with suspected or confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009.The key topics in the guidance include the following: risk factors for severe disease, signs and symptoms of progressive disease, diagnosis, treatment, both outpatient and in hospitals, and clinical care for resource-poor settings. | |
 | Description: Guide for field operations Abstract: The protocol discusses the specimen collection, packing and shipment, allowing ease of use at field level and to provide the data needed to confirm the diagnosis of A(H5N1) infection. The document describes the minimum number and types of specimen collected; enhances the chances of obtaining a positive result if the patient is infected with A(H5N1); allow the potential identification of respiratory pathogens other than A(H5N1); contribute to work designed to increase understanding of the pathogenesis if A(H5N1) disease including the potential duration of infectiousness. | |
 | Pages: 1; Description: This guideline outlines briefly in a one-page document the considerations for undertaking exercises to validate pandemic preparedness plans. Abstract: As pandemic preparedness and response plans are complex and multi-sectoral in nature, validation of these plans is critical to ensure operability in a crisis. This guideline outlines briefly in a one-page document the considerations for undertaking exercises to validate pandemic preparedness plans. | |
 | Description: Communication strategies serve as an integral component of national pandemic influenza plans, enabling ideas to be turned into actions. Given the potential impact of pandemic influenza, detailed plans on what to communicate, how to do it, to whom and by who must be planned and repeatedly revised-for all pandemic phases and for all audiences.
The following is a guide and some considerations for creating a communication strategy and a preparedness check off list. Each section focuses on a target audience and will require an action plan detailing how each activity will be carried out. The plan also should include the goals, methods, participants and costs for each activity. Subsequent annexes serve as examples and provide additional information on such topics as key messages, ways of dealing with the media, and basic aspects of risk communication. | |
 | Description: Guide to assist with creating and tracking the progress of pandemic planning Abstract: A comprehensive plan should be part of an overarching hazard emergency management programme. The document describes the different steps for the planning process and considerations and task for each of these steps. | |
 | Description: Guide on effective media communication during a public health emergency Abstract: The handbook describes a seven-step process to help public health officials and others to communicate effectively through the media during emergencies. The process is based upon the belief that it is better to take action to positively guide events and situations before they occur than to respond after they develop. By implementing such an approach, public health organizations and officials will be in a much stronger position to guide media coverage and ensure that their messages become highly visible and clearly heard. | |
 | Pages: 415; Description: This course is designed to provide the fundamentals of exercise design and to teach the design and conduct of an exercise. Abstract: This course is designed to provide the fundamentals of exercise design and to teach the design and conduct of an exercise. It addresses: 1) the value of conducting exercises; 2) the components of a comprehensive exercise programme; 3) the exercise development process. | |
 | Pages: 91; Description: The report seeks to provide guidelines on good practice for payment of compensation as part of HPAI stamping-out strategies. Abstract: An effective and efficient compensation scheme will compensate appropriate beneficiaries for appropriate losses at an appropriate level, with only a short interval between culling and payment of the compensation. This will only be possible if a number of elements are already in place before an outbreak. This guideline provides mechanisms to strengthen a compensation system. | |
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 | Description: Document provides guidance on developing a publicly-discussed ethical framework to maintain public trust, promote compliance, and minimize social disruption and economic loss during the pandemic alert period and the pandemic period. Abstract: The document focusses on priority setting and equitable access to resources, restriction of individual's movements as a result of non-pharmaceutical interventions, the respective obligations of health care workers and their employers and governments, and the obligations of countries vis-à-vis each other. The document also addresses the need for transparent and timely sharing of information to improve evidence-based policy design and facilitate public engagement in the decision-making process. Related documents: Addressing Ethical Issues in Pandemic Influenza Planning - Discussion Papers | |
 | Description: Guide to develop exercises for the validation of influenza pandemic preparedness plans Abstract: The exercise process is a useful tool to assist in the development of plans. Exercises can be used at each stage of plan development to test the practicality of proposed actions. The guide describes the different types of exercises, the planning and designing of an exercise, as well as the administering and conducting of an exercise. | |
 | Pages: 27; Description: This guideline describes the strategies and methods for influenza surveillance in swine populations in light of the 2009 A/(H1N1) pandemic. Abstract: This guideline describes the strategies and methods for influenza surveillance in swine populations in light of the 2009 A/(H1N1) pandemic. The adaptation of disease surveillance schemes to different pig production systems, especially disease surveillance targeting backyard or small pig producers, in particular in developing countries, is encouraged. Surveillance at this level should include the active participation of local communities and farmers to actively report respiratory cases in pigs. | |
 | Pages: 1; Description: The flowchart aids in the decision making process for school closure during pandemic influenza outbreaks. Abstract: The flowchart provides different thresholds for action depending on the type of school: conventional school, special school and nurseries. | |
 | Pages: 49; Description: This guidance focuses on social issues and reactions to a pandemic that could cripple economies, interrupt harvest, processing, transport, sales and distribution of basic food supplies. Abstract: This guidance focuses on social issues and reactions to a pandemic that could cripple economies, interrupt harvest, processing, transport, sales and distribution of basic food supplies. These could increase rates of malnutrition and, for those already malnourished, increase rates of mortality. This document is organized to provide guidance for community leaders in particular, as well as national leaders, with a final technical section that provides analysis for how local efforts can be supported by regional and international cooperation. | |
 | Description: Successful containment or control of pandemic influenza will rely on early recognition of sustained human-to-human transmission which requires a system for outbreak detection, rapid data collection, analysis, assessment and timely reporting. Early detection of the start of a pandemic is crucial to rapidly implement measures to stop the pandemic at its source and to prevent millions of deaths, social disruption and economic loss. As part of national pandemic preparedness planning each country should prepare for enhanced surveillance to (i) detect the emergence of the new disease, (ii) characterize the disease (epidemiology, clinical manifestations, severity) and (iii) monitor its evolution. | |
 | Description: The following guidelines provide information for classifying infectious substances for transportation and ensuring their safe packaging. They stress the importance of developing a working relationship between those involved – the sender, the carrier and the receiver – in order to provide for safe and expeditious transport of these materials. | |
 | Pages: 1; Description: The poster outlines steps to reduce the risk of influenza A/H1N1 2009 spread during Hajj and Umra. Abstract: The poster recommends hand hygiene, cough etiquette, regular cleaning of surfaces, isolating suspected cases and minimizing close contact. These concepts are presented pictorially for accessibility to audiences of all ages and knowledge background. | |