The European Union faces up to the threat of a pandemic: meeting at the DGV on the influenza A (H5N1) of the ad hoc group on communicable diseases Luxembourg 14 January 1998

Abstract

The transmission of an avian influenza H5N1 virus to a child in Hong Kong in May 1997 followed by the occurrence of 17 other human cases with a high case fatality rate (6/18, 33%) suggested that an influenza pandemic could be imminent and led many Europea

Pandemic Influenza and Community Preparedness

“…The United States began preparing pandemic influenza response plans in 1993 after the emergence of H5N1, closely followed by the European Union. 5,6 A worldwide response to emerging diseases coalesced in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, established in 2000. 7 Since then, a steady flow of WHO resource documents has encouraged the development of national pandemic influenza response plans and rapid action where outbreaks have occurred.…”