Introduction to Pandemic Influenza

Jonathan Van-Tam, MBE BMedSci (Hons) BMBS DM FFPH FRSPH, is Professor of Health Protection at the University of Nottingham. He graduated in medicine in 1987 and after several years of clinical work, completed academic training in epidemiology and public health, with a special interest in influenza that now spans almost 20 years. He brings a wealth of experience to this book including formative training in influenza under the mentorship of Professor Karl Nicholson, and private sector experience with two major pharmaceutical companies (both manufacturers of neuraminidase inhibitors) and a large European vaccines company. He returned to the public sector in 2007 and was Head of the Health Protection Agency, Pandemic Influenza Office during the most frenetic period of UK preparedness activity from 2004 to 2007. He has served as both Temporary Adviser and Short Term Consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding pandemic preparedness on numerous occasions, and has also undertaken related scientific work for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). He is a serving member of the UK national Scientific Pandemic Influenza Committee (SPI), its Clinical Countermeasures Sub-Group and a member of the newly formed UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Jonathan Van-Tam, MBE BMedSci (Hons) BMBS DM FFPH FRSPH, is Professor of Health Protection at the University of Nottingham. He graduated in medicine in 1987 and after several years of clinical work, completed academic training in epidemiology and public health, with a special interest in influenza that now spans almost 20 years. He brings a wealth of experience to this book including formative training in influenza under the mentorship of Professor Karl Nicholson, and private sector experience with two major pharmaceutical companies (both manufacturers of neuraminidase inhibitors) and a large European vaccines company. He returned to the public sector in 2007 and was Head of the Health Protection Agency, Pandemic Influenza Office during the most frenetic period of UK preparedness activity from 2004 to 2007. He has served as both Temporary Adviser and Short Term Consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding pandemic preparedness on numerous occasions, and has also undertaken related scientific work for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). He is a serving member of the UK national Scientific Pandemic Influenza Committee (SPI), its Clinical Countermeasures Sub-Group and a member of the newly formed UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Jonathan Van-Tam, MBE BMedSci (Hons) BMBS DM FFPH FRSPH, is Professor of Health Protection at the University of Nottingham. He graduated in medicine in 1987 and after several years of clinical work, completed academic training in epidemiology and public health, with a special interest in influenza that now spans almost 20 years. He brings a wealth of experience to this book including formative training in influenza under the mentorship of Professor Karl Nicholson, and private sector experience with two major pharmaceutical companies (both manufacturers of neuraminidase inhibitors) and a large European vaccines company. He returned to the public sector in 2007 and was Head of the Health Protection Agency, Pandemic Influenza Office during the most frenetic period of UK preparedness activity from 2004 to 2007. He has served as both Temporary Adviser and Short Term Consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding pandemic preparedness on numerous occasions, and has also undertaken related scientific work for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). He is a serving member of the UK national Scientific Pandemic Influenza Committee (SPI), its Clinical Countermeasures Sub-Group and a member of the newly formed UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Chloe Sellwood, BSc (Hons) PhD FRSPH DipHEP, is the Pandemic Influenza Resilience Manager for National Health Service (NHS) England, within the Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) Team. She leads NHS England internal pandemic influenza preparedness as a subject matter expert and is coordinating national pandemic preparedness across the NHS, with a specific focus on London. Her experience in pandemic influenza ranges from local to international levels and encompasses scientific, strategic and operational aspects, in both preparedness and response. She spent over 7 years at the Health Protection Agency, including 3 years as the Senior Scientist and Coordinator of the Pandemic Influenza Office. In 2008 she joined NHS London (the then strategic health authority for London) as the Pandemic Influenza Resilience Manager and was heavily involved in the response to the swine flu pandemic. In 2010 she assumed the additional role of 2012 Health Resilience for the NHS across London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since autumn 2014 she assumed the strategic leadership for NHS Ebola preparedness in London. She is the co-editor of, and a contributing author to, two textbooks on pandemic influenza, as well as many other articles and papers on influenza resilience. She has worked with the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on international consultations, as well as on secondment to the Department of Health (England) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Programme. Chloe Sellwood, BSc (Hons) PhD FRSPH DipHEP, is the Pandemic Influenza Resilience Manager for National Health Service (NHS) England, within the Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) Team. She leads NHS England internal pandemic influenza preparedness as a subject matter expert and is coordinating national pandemic preparedness across the NHS, with a specific focus on London. Her experience in pandemic influenza ranges from local to international levels and encompasses scientific, strategic and operational aspects, in both preparedness and response. She spent over 7 years at the Health Protection Agency, including 3 years as the Senior Scientist and Coordinator of the Pandemic Influenza Office. In 2008 she joined NHS London (the then strategic health authority for London) as the Pandemic Influenza Resilience Manager and was heavily involved in the response to the swine flu pandemic. In 2010 she assumed the additional role of 2012 Health Resilience for the NHS across London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since autumn 2014 she assumed the strategic leadership for NHS Ebola preparedness in London. She is the co-editor of, and a contributing author to, two textbooks on pandemic influenza, as well as many other articles and papers on influenza resilience. She has worked with the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on international consultations, as well as on secondment to the Department of Health (England) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Programme. Chloe Sellwood, BSc (Hons) PhD FRSPH DipHEP, is the Pandemic Influenza Resilience Manager for National Health Service (NHS) England, within the Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) Team. She leads NHS England internal pandemic influenza preparedness as a subject matter expert and is coordinating national pandemic preparedness across the NHS, with a specific focus on London. Her experience in pandemic influenza ranges from local to international levels and encompasses scientific, strategic and operational aspects, in both preparedness and response. She spent over 7 years at the Health Protection Agency, including 3 years as the Senior Scientist and Coordinator of the Pandemic Influenza Office. In 2008 she joined NHS London (the then strategic health authority for London) as the Pandemic Influenza Resilience Manager and was heavily involved in the response to the swine flu pandemic. In 2010 she assumed the additional role of 2012 Health Resilience for the NHS across London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since autumn 2014 she assumed the strategic leadership for NHS Ebola preparedness in London. She is the co-editor of, and a contributing author to, two textbooks on pandemic influenza, as well as many other articles and papers on influenza resilience. She has worked with the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on international consultations, as well as on secondment to the Department of Health (England) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Programme.

1: Seasonal influenza: epidemiology, clinical features and surveillance, Jonathan Van-Tam 2: Basic influenza virology and immunology, Lars R Haaheim 3: Avian and animal influenza: manifestations in humans, Chloe Sellwood 4: Brief history and epidemiological features of pandemic influenza, Chloe Sellwood 5: Influenza transmission and related infection control issues, Joanne Enstone 6: The role of emergency planning, business continuity and exercises in pandemic preparedness, John Simpson and Chloe Sellwood 7: Bio-mathematical modelling (what will and won’t work), Peter G Grove 8: Pharmaceutical Interventions, Jonathan Van-Tam and Ravindra K Gupta 9: Vaccines, Luc Hessel 10: National and international public health countermeasures, Angus Nicoll and Howard Needham 11: Societal and economic impacts of an influenza pandemic, Richard Puleston 12: Ethical issues related to pandemic preparedness and response, Elaine M Gadd 13: Communication with the public, Emily Collins A: Case Studies A1: Port Health and International Health regulations, David Hagen A2: Issues facing pandemic preparedness in Asia Pacific Countries, Lance C Jennings A3: Issues facing pandemic preparedness in newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, Shukhrat Aripov