The PHLS response to a pandemic of influenza

Abstract

This document sets out the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) action plan for responding to an influenza pandemic. The plan entails, in phase 0, interpandemic surveillance by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) and the Enteric & Respiratory Virus Laboratory (ERVL) of the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), as well as maintenance by Area & Regional (A & R) Public Health Laboratories of updated diagnostic techniques for influenza. In phase 1 (the emergence of a ‘shifted’ influenza virus strain) a Pandemic Working Group will be convened to consider what action by PHLS is necessary. In phase 2 (pandemic influenza outside UK) the pre-defined roles for PHLS laboratories and CDSC will be adopted. When a pandemic is imminent in the United Kingdom (phase 3) the Working Group will co-ordinate PHLS activities and the Director of the Service will assess what special studies should be implemented. In phase 4, when the pandemic has reached the UK, the action plan sets out comprehensive measures that will be taken by CDSC, ERVL and A & R Laboratories to gather and collate information, provide DoH with weekly surveillance data and develop recommendations for prophylaxis, clinical management and treatment. When influenza activity has returned to background levels (phase 5) a report will be drafted by the Working Group prior to it being stood down by the Director of the Service. The response is summarised in tabular form in Table 1.