Influenza

Pandemic preparedness

Influenza pandemics are unpredictable but recurring events that can cause severe social, economic, and political stress. Advanced planning and preparedness are critical in helping to mitigate the impact of influenza epidemic or pandemics.

  • WHO provides guidance documents to inform and harmonize national and international preparedness and response to pandemics.
  • WHO also supports countries in developing national pandemic preparedness plans though capacity building activities and simulation exercises.

Latest publications

  • Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework
    The objective of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework is to improve pandemic influenza preparedness and response, and strengthen the protection against the pandemic influenza by improving and strengthening the WHO global influenza surveillance and response system (“WHO GISRS”), with the objective of a fair, transparent, equitable, efficient, effective system for, on an equal footing.
  • Public health measures during the influenza A(H1N1) 2009 pandemic
    In order to learn from the experiences of Member States in the implementation of public health measures during the influenza A(H1N1)2009 pandemic, the WHO Global Influenza Programme held a workshop in Gammarth, Tunisia, 26–28 October 2010. Information and findings from this workshop will inform the revision of the pandemic preparedness and response guidance.

All publications and related documents

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Contact information

Global Influenza Programme and PIP Framework
World Health Organization
Avenue Appia 20
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
Email: WHOinfluenza@who.int