WHO Guidance on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response- Explanation of the revision process

On 27–29 November 2007, the WHO Global Influenza Programme (GIP) convened the first meeting of the Pandemic Preparedness and Response Guidance Revision Working Group in Geneva, Switzerland. Experts from national and international technical institutions, and international organizations joined WHO staff from headquarters and regional offices. It was agreed that the working group would form the following five task forces to facilitate the revision process: core guidance, communication and social mobilization, public health interventions, medical interventions, and non-health sector preparedness.

Following review and discussion of existing evidence in these areas, a second Working Group meeting was held on 05–07 March 2008 in Lyon, France. To support the discussions of Public Health Interventions and Medical Interventions task forces WHO also hosted two parallel consultations in Geneva, Switzerland:

• Global Pandemic Influenza Surveillance on 10–12 December 2007; and
• Disease Control Measures during pandemic on 01–04 April 2008.

To consolidate the results of these meetings and parallel processes, a WHO consultation on pandemic preparedness guidance was convened on 05–09 May 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland.

More information on the revision process