MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/9E8BDD12/2010-4-2Newsletter.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" 2 April 2010

2 April 2010=

WHO to C= onvene Expert Committee April 12-15 to Review the Global Response to Pandemic Influenza

This week the Wor= ld Health Organization (WHO) announced details of the upcoming April 12-14 ini= tial review of the global response to the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus.  Yesterday (April 1st) a two–page document was posted on the WHO website summarizing the three= key objectives, an overview of the (29-person) committee membership, proceeding= s, and participation by International health Regulations (IHR) States Parties. 

The three stated objectives of this expert review committee are:

--“Assess t= he functioning of the International Health Regulations (2005);

--Assess the ongo= ing global response to the pandemic H1N1 (including the role of WHO); and<= /o:p>

--Identify lessons learned important for strengthening preparedness and response for future pandemics and public health emergencies.”

This WHO April 1<= sup>st document can be found at: www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently= _asked_questions/review_committee/en/index.html

Earlier this week= , on March 29th, a press conference was held addressing this review committee process.  Dr. Keiji Fukuda, Special Advisor to the Director-General (Dr. Margaret Chan) on Pand= emic Influenza outlined the process involved with this review committee.

Dr. Fukuda also answered a journalist’s question regarding how WHO defined “pandemic” with regard to the pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus. In particular, he noted that the “severity” = of the influenza disease was not part of the definition. He also noted that no change was made in the definition of the pandemic in 2009.

The 12-page transcript of this press conference March 29th can be found at: = www.who.int/mediacentre/multimedia/pc_transcript_29_march_10_f= ukuda.pdf

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The first (interi= m) report of this 29-member is due next month in time for the annual May World Health Assembly. The committee will meet in Geneva at WHO headquarters April 12-14.= The final report of the committee is due in 13 months, at the May 2011 World He= alth Assembly.

The report of this expert committee is anticipated to address many important issues regarding = this influenza pandemic, the global public health response, the International He= alth Regulations (IHR 2005), and potential lessons for future disease outbreaks, whether influenza or not, whether pandemics or not.

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Daniel R. Lucey, MD, MPH

EROne Department of Emergency Medicine=

Washingt= on Hospital Center

Georgeto= wn University = Medical Center

Adjunct Professor of Microbiology and Immunology

Washingt= on, DC

Website for this newsletter: www.BePast.org

DRL23@Georgetown.= edu

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