Preparedness planning for an influenza pandemic: Regional efforts

Failure to establish a contingency plan prior to a public health emergency can have catastrophic consequences. The threat Of a new influenza pandemic has prompted countries to draft national strategic preparedness plans to prevent, mitigate, and recover from a potential influenza pandemic. This paper examines these preparations in Latin America and the Caribbean and describes potential scenarios of pandemic impact on the burden of mortality and on health services in the Region. In particular, the paper reports on the progress made by Member States in developing national influenza pandemic preparedness plans and implementation mechanisms at both the national and local levels. These achievements were facilitated through a series of planning workshops and self assessment exercises conducted by PAHO for intersectoral country teams and guided by the WHO global influenza preparedness plan. Although significant progress has been made in plan completeness, intercountry preparedness planning and local level implementation remain key challenges. Multisectoral partnerships are clearly paramount to securing the commitment and resources needed to reach and sustain effective pandemic preparedness in the Americas.