A primer on strategies for prevention and control of seasonal and pandemic influenza.
The United States has made considerable progress in pandemic preparedness. Limited attention, however, has been given to the challenges faced by populations that will be at increased risk of the consequences of the pandemic, including challenges caused by societal, economic, and health-related factors. This supplement to the American Journal of Public Health focuses on the challenges faced by at-risk and vulnerable populations in preparing for and responding to an influenza pandemic. Here, we provide background information for subsequent articles throughout the supplement. We summarize (1) seasonal influenza epidemiology, transmission, clinical illness, diagnosis, vaccines, and antiviral medications; (2) H5N1 avian influenza; and (3) pandemic influenza vaccines, antiviral medications, and nonpharmaceutical interventions.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS A-20, Atlanta GA 30333, USA. ssantibanez@cdc.gov
Scott
S
Santibañez
Anthony E
AE
Fiore
Toby L
TL
Merlin
Stephen
S
Redd
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011790:Quarantine; D014481:United States; D014483:United States Dept. of Health and Human Services; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines