WHO Phases and UK alert levels
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Phase
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WHO international phases
|
Overarching public health goals
|
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Inter-pandemic period
|
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1
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No new influenza virus subtypes detected in humans
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Strengthen influenza pandemic preparedness at global, regional,
national and sub-national levels Minimise the risk of transmission to
humans; detect and report such transmission rapidly if it occurs
|
|
2
|
Animal influenza virus subtype poses substantial risk
|
|
Pandemic alert period
|
3
|
Human infection(s) with a new subtype, but no (or rare)
person-to-person spread to a close contact
|
Ensure rapid characterisation of the new virus subtype and early
detection, notification and response to additional cases Contain new
virus or delay its spread transmission to gain time to implement
preparedness measures, including vaccine development Maximise efforts
to contain or delay spread, to possibly avert a pandemic and to gain
time to implement response measures
|
|
4
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Small cluster(s) with limited person-to-person transmission but
spread is highly localised, suggesting that the virus is not well
adapted to humans
|
|
5
|
Large cluster(s) but person-to-person spread still localised,
suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to
humans
|
|
Pandemic period
|
|
6
|
Increased and sustained transmission in general population
UK alert levels:
1 Virus/cases only outside the UK
2 Virus isolated in the UK
3 Outbreak(s) in the UK
4 Widespread activity across the UK
|
Minimise the impact of the pandemic
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Key:
Indicates current WHO phase
|
For more information WHO pandemic flu preparations and activities please
visit their website[External website]
