ECDC Background Advice on Public Health Measures that may be deployed in the event of an Influenza Pandemic or severe epidemics of seasonal influenza

The document (divided in 3 parts) should be read along with previous guidance that ECDC has published on personal protective measures which is summarized in the text and tables along with the current WHO advice which has been reproduced with kind permission of WHO. Relevant scientific guidance on the use of human H5N1 vaccines is also available and is referred with electronic links in the document. The document has been reviewed through ECDC procedures and is now being put out for public consultation until January 31st 2008.   

As befits the limited Mandate of ECDC (to give background advice not to prescribe), the diversity of Europe and the varied form and severity of pandemics the document is a guide or Menu of the possible measures, their advantages and disadvantages etc rather than recommending specific measures. 

1. This is the consultation version of this document. Debate, comments and suggestions are all welcome to Influenza@ecdc.europa.eu preferably with the subject title ECDC Pandemic Public Health Measures Menu 
2. The guidance is labeled interim as there will be further research findings and it is possible that new countermeasures will emerge. Therefore beyond the outcome of this consultation, the Guide will still need to be updated regularly. 

Read following :

• Executive Summary ( 140 KB)
• The Menu of Measures ( 273 KB)
• Annex – WHO Position on Non Pharmaceutical Public Health Measures 2005 ( 73 KB)