Planning for uncertainty: a European approach to informing responses to the severity of influenza epidemics and pandemics
Angus Nicoll
Volume 89, Number 7, July 2011, 542-544
Table 1. Seriousness matrix for pandemic influenza in Europe, 2009
| Category | Seriousness | Potential actions and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal measures | Amber | Alert public to strengthen personal hygiene and early self isolation |
| Primary care pressures | Amber | Consider enacting back-up plans |
| Immunization | Red | Strong arguments for immunizing risk groups when available |
| Antiviral resistance | Green | No change in policy justifiable |
| Public health measures | Green | Proactive school closures not justifiable at present |
| Secondary care pressures | Red | Strong case for enacting surge capacity for intensive care and paediatric capacity |
| Special groups | Red | Pregnant women, handicapped children risk groups in addition to those with chronic illness |
| Social care pressures | Green | No case for enacting support plans |
| Critical cross-sector services | Green | No case for enacting support plans |
| Special features | Red | Rapid deaths in some young healthy adults and children – acute respiratory distress syndrome |