title: [Influenza pandemic: A real threat ?].
abstract: An influenza pandemic is not merely a theoretical threat, but an historical fact. Reliable predictions of the timing of a new pandemic or its extent are, however, impossible. A pandemic poses a threat to society at large, which can be effectively prepared for by appropriate planning and investment in supplies of vaccine doses, antiviral medication and effective monitoring systems. During the interpandemic phase, general practitioners have an important role in raising the level of immunization and providing medical care to those contracting the disease when a pandemic does break out.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Infektionsepidemiologie am Robert Koch-lnstitut, Berlin. ReiterS@rki.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D005858:Germany; D006285:Health Planning / Q000639:trends; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D015996:Survival Rate; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines