Abstract
In Italy, the arrival of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus triggered an integrated response that was mainly based on the 2006 National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan. In this article we analyse the main activities implemented for epidemiological surveillance, containment and mitigation of the pandemic influenza and the lesson learned from this experience. Overall, from week 31 (27 July – 2 August) of 2009 to week 17 (26 April – 2 May) of 2010, we estimate that there were approximately 5,600,000 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) who received medical attention (with almost 2,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic influenza from May to October 2009). A total of 1,106 confirmed cases were admitted to hospital for serious conditions, of whom 532 were admitted to intensive care units. There were 260 reported deaths due to pandemic influenza. Approximately 870,000 first doses of the pandemic vaccine were administered, representing a vaccine coverage of 4% of the target population. One of the possible reasons for the low uptake of the pandemic vaccine in the target population could be the communication strategy adopted, for both the general population and healthcare workers, which turned out to be a major challenge. Active involvement of all health professionals (at local, regional and national level) in influenza pandemic preparedness and response should be encouraged in the future.
Highlights
Since the emergence of the avian influenza threat in 1999, the Italian Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, the national institute of health, started to work on an influenza pandemic preparedness plan
The 2006 Plan was aimed at strengthening preparedness and response for an influenza pandemic at both national and local level by improving epidemiological and virological surveillance, implementing containment measures at the early stage of a pandemic, reducing the impact of the pandemic through the implementation of mitigation measures, ensuring communication strategies to inform healthcare workers, the media and public about decisions, and monitoring the efficiency of the interventions undertaken
This report summarises the response to the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in Italy and the lessons learned from this experience
Summary
Citation style for this article: Rizzo C, Rota MC, Bella A, Giannitelli S, De Santis S, Nacca G, Pompa MG, Vellucci L, Salmaso S, Declich S. Response to the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic in Italy. In Italy, the arrival of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus triggered an integrated response that was mainly based on the 2006 National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan. In this article we analyse the main activities implemented for epidemiological surveillance, containment and mitigation of the pandemic influenza and the lesson learned from this experience. From week 31 (27 July – 2 August) of 2009 to week 17 (26 April – 2 May) of 2010, we estimate that there were approximately 5,600,000 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) who received medical attention (with almost 2,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic influenza from May to October 2009). 870,000 first doses of the pandemic vaccine were administered, representing a vaccine coverage of 4% of the target population. Active involvement of all health professionals (at local, regional and national level) in influenza pandemic preparedness and response should be encouraged in the future
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
