Explaining pandemic flu: a guide from the Chief Medical Officer
Factsheet, Public leaflet
Abstract:
The guidance aims to provide healthcare staff and the public with a better understanding of pandemic flu, the nature of avian flu, controlling pandemic flu and how pandemic flu will affect the UK and how the UK will respond The UK plan is a technical document, aimed at planners in government departments, health service organisations and other agencies involved in responding to an influenza pandemic. While it has been shared with all health workers and NHS staff, so that they will know what to do if pandemic flu reaches the UK, it has not been distributed to the public at large. It is hoped that this explanatory guide will provide a useful reference document for members of the public and health professionals wishing to better understand the threat, its likely impact on the UK and their country
Category:
Control
Prevention
Public information
Expert Review
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Summary:
The guidance aims to provide healthcare staff and the public with a better understanding of pandemic flu, its likely impact on the UK and contingency plans that are in place to deal with a possible pandemic flu outbreak.It contains a summary of the key facts relating to pandemic flu which include information on the disease, what it is caused by, who is at risk, vaccines explained, what the government are doing to prepare and what the public can do to help.It explains all of the above in an easy to follow format and has useful tables which explain the differences between ‘ordinary flu’ and pandemic flu. The nature of avian flu is explained and the epidemiology of its spread globally. There is an account of present surveillance, diagnosis, vaccination research and use of antiviral drugs, and how social interventions will be advised to slow the spread of the pandemic should it occur.There is an attempt to predict the impact of a pandemic flu outbreak looking at scale and severity of illness at global and UK levels, and the impact it may have on the health service, business, schools and other services.The UK pandemic influenza contingency plan is outlined and other useful references are listed.
Questions Addressed:
The guidance aims to provide healthcare staff and the public with a better understanding of pandemic flu, its likely impact on the UK and contingency plans that are in place to deal with a possible pandemic flu outbreak.
Type of Study:
Best Practice
Methods Valid:
Yes
Methods Valid Detail:
Written in easy to understand language with the use of figures and charts to explain more complex issues such as ‘antigenic shift’ and differences between ‘ordinary flu’ and pandemic flu.
Results Reliability:
Yes in as much as they have not been tested during a flu pandemic and therefore are extrapolations from past pandemics.
Problems or Biases:
Important that web based documents are viewed as current guidance because they will be constantly updated as new information/research becomes available
Relevant Studies:
Keywords:
Pandemic flu influenza avian influenza public information
Reviewer Name:
Sue Wiseman
Reviewer Post:
Nurse Consultant –Infection Control, DH
Reviewer Affiliations:
Member Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens Health Protection Adviser Royal College of Nursing P/T Member Infection Control Nurses Association