Abkhazia Institute for Social and Economic Research

WHO works closely with ministries of health and various public health organizations to support surveillance of circulating influenza strains. The most important warning that a pandemic is beginning comes when clusters of patients with clinical symptoms of influenza, closely related in time and place, occur as this suggests human-to-human spread is taking place. The detection of H5N1 virus in healthcare workers caring for H5N1 patients would also suggest human-to-human risk. If these warning signs are noted, immediate field investigation of the outbreak should occur. Specialized WHO laboratories conduct viral studies and WHO repeatedly asks affected countries to share viruses with the international research community. WHO will alert the world when the pandemic threat increases.
WHO recommends that all countries undertake immediate action to prepare for a pandemic. They have published two guidelines to assist in the efforts to prepare for an influenza pandemic: WHO Global Influenza Preparedness Plan and WHO Checklist for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planning.