Pandemic
The web site of Office fédéral de la santé publique [the federal public health organisation] (OFSP), www.pandemia.ch, which was put online in late February, is highly topical. It provides information on day-to-day life in case of a pandemic and presents the main measures to be taken to prevent the disease and to protect oneself from it as required by the circumstances.
A pandemic occurs when a new infectious agent appears to which human beings are not immune and which – contrary to bird flu at its current development stage, is readily transmitted between individuals. The disease propagates rapidly and can result in a large number of severe cases worldwide.
A pandemic can completely disrupt our way of life and our activities. It is therefore necessary to prepare oneself to face up to it, both individually and collectively.
Everyone can consult the hygiene and prevention rules and measures that are recommended in such cases.
Pandemic phases & possible scenarios for Switzerland
As part of its world plan in case of a pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines three stages in a pandemic, which in turn comprise six phases:
- The inter-pandemic period (phases 1 and 2)
- The period of alert (phases 3, 4 and 5)
- The pandemic period (phase 6)
These phases cover the unfolding of events from the appearance of a new type of influenza virus in animals until the propagation of the disease in human beings worldwide.
In concrete terms, the WHO declares each phase and the Member States must activate their corresponding national plans.
In the attached PDF document (Swiss influenza Pandemic Plan - pages 14 to 20), you will find everything there is to know about the Swiss Plan, the details of the various phases and scenarios, the measures for preparing for and combating the disease as well as the people who are in charge. (Source: WHO).
The WHO, via its web site, www.who.int, issues regular updates about the development of the pandemic, its severity, the level of alert as well as other information relative to the situation.
Regarding pig flu (the H1N1 A virus), OFSP regularly publishes statements and status reports on its web site, http://www.bag.admin.ch/influenza (see the “Cas d’influenza nouvelle souche [new strain of influenza]” document dated 27 April and the “Pig flu” document dated 24 April).
OFSP continues to track the development of avian flu (the H5N1 influenza virus) and publishes a status report* at Swiss and international levels for both people and animals.
From a human point of view the general situation is still critical but stable. The status is still Alert phase 3, and has not changed since 2003, but so long as the H5N1 virus will be circulating in the world, the risk of an influenza pandemic will remain.