title: Canada in the face of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Initial public health responses to the 2009 influenza H1N1 pandemic were based on difficult decisions in the face of substantial uncertainty. Policy effectiveness depends critically on such decisions, and future planning for maximum protection of community health requires understanding of the impact of public health responses in observed scenarios.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In alignment with the objectives of the Pandemic Influenza Outbreak Research Modelling Team (Pan-InfORM) and the Centre for Disease Modelling (CDM), a focused workshop was organized to: (i) evaluate Canada's response to the spring and autumn waves of the novel H1N1 pandemic; (ii) learn lessons from public health responses, and identify challenges that await public health planners and decision-makers; and (iii) understand how best to integrate resources to overcome these challenges.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report on key presentations and discussions that took place to achieve the objectives of the workshop.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future emerging infectious diseases are likely to bring far greater challenges than those imposed by the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Canada must address these challenges and enhance its capacity for emergency responses by integrating modelling, surveillance, planning, and decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biodiagnostics, National Research Council Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Seyed.Moghadas@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Seyed M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Moghadas
authors.forename: Nick J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Pizzi
authors.forename: Jianhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Tamblyn
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Fisman
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D058873:Pandemics; D011634:Public Health; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines