Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) What do the WHO Phases Mean?

[Guest guest]

Q & As on the WHO

Declaration of Pandemic Phase 6 for Novel H1N1 Flu as of 11:07am

PHASE

6

What do

the WHO phases mean?

The WHO

phases are based on the geographical spread of a novel influenza virus. As

“pandemic” means worldwide epidemic, a WHO Phase 6 means that the virus is

spreading across the globe. What the WHO phases do NOT do is predict the

severity of the virus.

Using a

hurricane analogy, the WHO phase system simply tells us that a hurricane is

imminent, but it DOES NOT tell us how big or how strong the storm might be.

It is the strength of a hurricane that dictates which pre-landfall actions are

needed, such as just boarding up windows versus a full evacuation. While

weather forecasters can fly an airplane into the eye of a hurricane to measure

a storm’s strength and predict its ultimate severity, there is no such

forecasting tool for flu viruses.

Does WHO’s change to Phase 6 mean the virus is more severe?

No.

It is important to understand that this change is based on the geographic spread of the virus to other

parts of the world and does not necessarily reflect any change in the severity of the virus or associated illness.

So why did WHO move to Phase 6 if the virus severity is unchanged?

The

move to Phase 6 is really an alert that the spread of the H1N1 virus is now

expected to traverse the globe and those nations where the virus has yet to

arrive should expect to eventually see cases and be prepared to respond.

What

does the phase change mean for the United States? What will the U.S. do

differently?

Here in the

United States, the virus has been spreading steadily from person-to-person

since April, so today’s announcement by WHO does not really change what we are

already doing here at home to respond.

In response

to an influenza pandemic, governments, communities, workplaces and individuals

will base the intensity of their efforts to reduce spread of the virus on the

severity of the disease, as reflected by the number of deaths and

hospitalizations from the virus.

The United

States has been responding to the H1N1 flu in a way that balances the health of

our residents while minimizing disruption to society. We will continue to

provide guidance using the most current scientific data available about the

H1N1 flu.

Regardless

of what WHO calls or labels this, we are taking necessary and aggressive

measures to protect the health of our residents out of an abundance of

caution.

What actions has the U.S.

taken already?

Since the first reports of

the appearance of novel H1N1 flu in the U.S., we have been actively and

aggressively implementing our pandemic response plan. We have distributed 11

million courses of antiviral drugs nationwide, we have begun the process of

procuring a vaccine should it be needed, and we have been routinely providing

the latest information to assist health care providers, public health officials

and the public in addressing the challenges posed by this newly-identified

influenza virus.

Is the outbreak over in the U.S.?

The only thing certain

about flu viruses is uncertainty. As we have been saying for some time, we do

expect that we will see more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths from

this virus. However, to date most people who have become ill with novel H1N1

in the United States have not become seriously ill and have recovered without

hospitalization.

While the

number of cases in the U.S. may be waning, we are continuing to prepare for the

possibility that the virus may return in the fall. We

will continue to watch this virus carefully, especially in the Southern

Hemisphere. Every day we learn more about this virus and its impact on

human health. As we learn new information, we will adjust our responses and

planning, and inform the public and continue to do all we can to make this

outbreak less severe.

Is there

anything individuals can do?

There are everyday common sense things that people must do to protect

their health and lessen the spread of the novel H1N1 virus as well as seasonal

flu viruses. Wash your hands and cover your mouth when you cough or

sneeze. If you are sick, stay home, recover, and keep others

well. Avoid going to work or school. Delay travel plans/. Limit your contact

with others . And stay

informed—be sure to visit www.hhs.gov, www.cdc.gov, and www.pandemicflu.gov

to get the latest information as it becomes available. You can also call 1-800

CDC INFO.

What does Phase 6 mean for vaccine development and production?

First, it

is important to recognize that developing a vaccine for use, in case it is

needed, is different from recommending individuals be immunized. There is a great deal still unknown,

including the severity of illness caused by the virus, how the virus will

evolve, how the outbreak plays out in the coming weeks to months, and what

populations may be most (or least) at risk.

The process

of vaccine preparation is already underway and decisions regarding production

will be informed by what we learn about the need for such a vaccine and what we

learn about the vaccine itself as it is developed and is used in clinical

studies. The goal

is to have vaccine(s) ready, if needed, but this is a multi-step process

and the decisions to have a vaccine ready, if needed, including, potentially,

to produce such vaccines on a large-scale level, is distinct from any decision

to recommend its use.

Are

you planning an H1N1 immunization program?

While we

are all working as fast as possible to develop the vaccine in the event that we

need it, please understand that this is separate from a decision to use it, or

not. Any decisions on immunization programs must be made on the best scientific

and public health evidence available at the time. That said, it is very important

that we prepare expeditiously and thoroughly for all potential scenarios.

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