Meeting of the Influenza Pandemic Task Force
Conclusions and Recommendations
Geneva, 25 September 2006
Conclusions
The Influenza Pandemic Task Force members understood the roles and responsibilities of the Task Force and members, and practical issues to be addressed when participating in any emergency or other meetings convened in the coming months prior to 15 June 2007. They also understood that the Task Force, and hence membership in the Task Force, expires upon entry into force of the International Health Regulations (2005) on that date.
In conclusion, the Task Force members are willing and prepared to provide advice in accordance with the mandate given in WHA59.2.
Recommendations
The Task Force endorsed the proposed rules of procedure.
WHO to prepare operational procedures and support for emergency teleconferences and meetings of the Task Force.
WHO to develop a list of important data elements (e.g., age specific mortality, geographic extent of the event, control measure implemented on the ground) that, to the extent available at the time of the meeting, should be provided to the Task Force in preparation for emergency meetings. WHO to share the list with the Task Force members for further refinement.
WHO to indicate an assessment of the reliability of any data or information provided to the Task Force members related to an urgent event upon which advice is requested.
WHO to inform the Task Force members on information coming from other WHO technical work groups relevant to the discussions and activities of the Task Force.
WHO to develop further clarification on the criteria for moving between pandemic alert phases. The Task Force had not been presented with any evidence to indicate that any change from the current pandemic alert phase 3 is indicated at this time.
The Task Force endorsed the steps proposed by WHO to strengthen the WHO Collaborating Centre system on influenza and recommended that WHO work to further strengthen both influenza laboratory and disease based surveillance.
The Task Force endorsed steps by WHO to define, collect and make available critical clinical and epidemiological data on human cases and outbreaks of avian influenza.
The Task Force endorsed the WHO proposals for best practices in sharing of influenza viruses/specimens and genetic sequences and recommended that after further refinement they be put before the WHO Member States for further consideration.