Research preparedness paves the way to respond to pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza virus.
The international community has been preparing for an influenza pandemic because of the threat posed by H5N1 avian influenza. Over the past several years, Canada has dedicated funding to boost capacity for research, and public health and health care system readiness and response in the event of a pandemic. The current H1N1/09 influenza pandemic is now testing our readiness. From a research perspective, the present commentary discusses how have we prepared, along with the research gaps. We conclude that: sources of pandemics are not always predictable; investment in the past few years has paid off in a rapid response to pandemic H1N1/09 virus in Canada; and research to meet the challenges of infectious diseases has to be done on an ongoing long-term basis, and its funding has to be flexible, available and predictable to maintain capacity and expertise. In addition, new vaccine technologies are needed to develop and produce vaccines for public health emergencies in a timely fashion.
French
Michelle B
MB
University of Toronto, Toronto;
Loeb
Mark B
MB
Richardson
Carol
C
Singh
Bhagirath
B
Nat Rev Microbiol. 2004 Jul;2(7):602-7
15197395
Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Jan;12(1):15-22
16494711
Science. 2009 Jul 10;325(5937):197-201
19465683
Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2004 May;15(3):167-70
18159488
Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2008 Mar;19(2):185-92
19352450
CMAJ. 2009 Jun 9;180(12):E93-4
19506266
Lancet. 2009 May 2;373(9674):1495
19410694
Science. 2009 May 8;324(5928):705
19423784
Science. 2003 May 30;300(5624):1399-404
12730501
CMAJ. 2009 Sep 15;181(6-7):E108
19752128