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Full-text report
(in Spanish, 50 pp, PDF)
1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction
3. Background
3.1 Influenza in the World
4. The Viruses
5. Influenza in the Southern Cone—Epidemiological Situation
5.1 Argentina
5.2 Brazil
5.3 Chile
5.4 Uruguay
6. Preparation of a Contingency Plan in Case of an Influenza Pandemic
6.1 Forming a National Committee on Influenza Pandemics
6.2 Activities during Interpandemic Periods
6.3 Prevention and Control
6.4 Prophylaxis and Treatment
6.5 Infection Control
6.6 Possible Scenarios
7. Levels of Alert (according to WHO)
8. Recommendations
References
List of Participants
Annex 1: Executive Committee Resolution, OMS.EB111.R6
Annex 2: Theoretical Economic Impact in a Hypothetical Country with an Influenza Pandemic
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Guidelines for the Preparation of a Subregional Plan of the
Southern Cone Countries for an Influenza Pandemic
(Santiago, Chile, 15-19 December 2002)
Executive Summary
Influenza derives its importance from its rapid dissemination and high morbidity and mortality in certain risk groups. This is a cause for concern throughout the world, reflected in WHO Resolution EB.111R6, in which Member States are urged to intensify efforts to prevent and control influenza. The ever-latent threat of a possible pandemic, with its social and economic impact, makes it mandatory for countries to be alert. Furthermore, the aforementioned resolution compels the countries to develop contingency plans in preparation for an influenza pandemic, so as to minimize the potential dangers and impact.
A group of experts from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay was convened to develop recommendations for the formulation of guidelines applicable to an influenza pandemic.
Recommendations
The Southern Cone countries should
- Develop national preparation plans for an influenza pandemic in accordance with the guidelines presented in this document.
- Designate a multi-institutional and multisectoral committee for the preparation of a contingency plan in case of an influenza pandemic at the national level, with an executive secretary located in the Ministry of Health.
- Define intervention strategies according to different mortality and morbidity rates in order to determine the possible effects of an influenza pandemic.
- Promote the subregional production of an influenza vaccine and the production of generic antiviral medications.
- Enhance the influenza surveillance systems, intensifying or promoting the development of sentinel units linked to virological surveillance.
- Strengthen national influenza centers and network in order to enhance virological surveillance in humans.
- Promote epidemiological and virological surveillance of animal influenza in birds, pigs, and horses and their coordination with human surveillance.
- Establish preventive measures to reduce the social and economic impact stemming from the spread of the pandemic strain.
- Prepare and implement communication strategies for rapid dissemination of information to the general population and to health-care workers.
- Plan timely medical care delivery considering different levels of care and maintenance of essential community services.
- Review regulations that could affect the application of prevention and control measures.
- Define the needs for antiviral vaccine and drugs for the different risk-group scenarios.
- Store a stock of antiviral drugs and other inputs (antibiotics, materials for protection of health workers and others), creating a mechanism for its distribution. Define the terms in order to have these stocks available.
- Use the annual epidemics in risk groups in closed communities (for example, nursing homes) to train their personnel in the control of an influenza epidemic.
- Ensure financing that permits the development and sustainability of the plan over time, as well as its periodical updating.
- Adopt the proposed WHO levels of alert.
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