Policy paper: Responding to a UK flu pandemic

The UK is an acknowledged leader in preparedness planning for avian and pandemic influenza. This international pandemic preparedness strategy has been developed by Cabinet Office (CO) in conjunction with Department of Health (DH), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Department for International Development (DFID), Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT), Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), and Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) (Government Office (GO)-Science); and it has been informed by discussions with international partners and by independent academic advice. It sets out a coordinated framework for objectives and actions on the international stage over the next five years to seek to reduce the risk of an influenza pandemic and to tackle complacency. This strategy is the first of its kind; demonstrating a cross-government approach to improving international preparedness over the coming three to five years. It presents the UK Government's aims, objectives and actions for playing its part to improve global pandemic preparedness The strategy implementation will be reviewed after eighteen months, three years and five years.