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The UN has released a 100 page document entitled Simulation Exercises on Influenza Pandemic Responses in the Asia-Pacific Region (PDF 5.7mb) that outlines the various pandemic simulation drills that have been held by Asian-Pacific nations, and the lessons learned along the way.
This document will be distributed in book form to the governments attending the Sixth International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza later this month in Egypt.
IRIN news has an interview with Dr. David Nabarro, the UN's coordinator on avian influenza (UNSIC), regarding the progress being made in the Asian-Pacific region. While applauding the work done to date, Dr. Nabarro points out a number of areas where much remains to be done.
IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks)was founded in 1995, and is part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. While technically a part of the UN, it maintains editorial independence, and its reports do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations and its agencies, not its member states.
ASIA: Countries lagging in flu pandemic plans, UN warns
Photo: Brennon Jones/IRIN
BANGKOK, 13 October 2008 (IRIN) - Most Asia-Pacific nations are making progress on avian flu control, but are lagging in plans to tackle the social and economic fallout of a human flu pandemic, a senior UN influenza specialist has warned.
"In general, the situation is that countries are getting much more on top of the bird flu," senior UN System Influenza Coordinator (UNSIC), David Nabarro, told IRIN in Bangkok. "I'm impressed with progress, but I am saying a lot more needs to be done, particularly on multi-sectoral pandemic preparedness."
UNSIC in the Asia-Pacific, collaborating with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre and the Kenan Institute Asia, has released its first compilation of simulation exercises conducted by countries to prepare for a human influenza pandemic.
In the book, countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and China detail and assess their simulations, which range from table-top discussions to full-scale exercises; in one 2006 Australian simulation, 800 participants from domestic government agencies responded to a pandemic originating in a fictional Southeast Asian nation.
The simulations were aimed at testing a range of areas, from cooperation between government agencies to the efficiency of standard procedures and the feasibility of existing pandemic preparedness plans.
Although governments have built experience through simulations, Nabarro writes in the book that many plans worldwide have yet to show how essential services will continue in a pandemic, where there may be high work absenteeism. There is also insufficient preparation for wider social, economic and political consequences.
Photo: Brennon Jones/IRIN
"I'm impressed with progress, but I am saying a lot more needs to be done, particularly on multi-sectoral pandemic preparedness."
David Nabarro, senior UN System Influenza Coordinator (UNSIC), told IRIN in Bangkok.
"The planning for pandemics that has been done by most countries and organisations during the last two years has concentrated on health service planning - making sure that the hospitals are equipped to keep working, making sure that the medical staff have some understanding of what they are expected to do," Nabarro told IRIN.
"Yet … our experience is that a pandemic will do much more than affect the health system, it will affect essential services, it will affect the operation of government and transport and all other aspects of society."
The book, Simulation exercises on influenza pandemic responses in the Asia-Pacific region, will be distributed to governments at the Sixth International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza from 24 October this year in Egypt.
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