ntense international interest following serious human infections with avian influenza and the possibility of the virus becoming a pandemic strain has resulted in a huge range of literature on the subject. There is a confusing mixture of evidence-based information and expert, sometimes conflicting, opinion. The following is an attempt to distill essential points and highlight where advice differs. Guidance is frequently revised; as the Health Protection Agency points out this is `an ongoing activity' (HPA, 2006b). There is a clear need to simply the numerous publications into a few readable documents to assist busy professionals who do not have time to search the multitude of publications currently available.
Cabinet Office. (2006) Contingency planning for a possible influenza pandemic. See: www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk/emergency/060710_revised_pandemic.pdf (accessed 10 September 2006).
2.
Chief Medical Officer. (2005) Explaining pandemic flu — a guide from the CMO. See: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/17/49/04121749.pdf (accessed 24 October 2006).
3.
Department of Health. (2005a) Guidance for pandemic influenza: infection control in hospitals and primary care settings. See: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/17/54/04121754.pdf (accessed 24 October 2006).
4.
Department of Health. (2005b) Influenza pandemic contingency plan. See: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/17/44/04121744.pdf (accessed 4 October 2006).
5.
Department of Health. (2005c) Pandemic flu slide set (front page list). See: www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/EmergencyPlanning/PandemicFlu/PandemicFluList/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4121650&chk=QHSLdt (accessed 10 September 2006).
6.
Department of Health. (2005d) Pandemic flu: frequently asked questions. See: www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4121633&chk=5e5L5B (accessed 10 September 2006).
7.
Department of Health. (2005e) UK operational framework for stock-piling, distributing and using antiviral medicines in the event of pandemic influenza. See: www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4119491&chk=T/Iaww (accessed 10 September 2006).
8.
Department of Health. (2006a). Avian influenza (bird flu): latest health updates. See: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/10/18/04131018.pdf (accessed 27 October 2006).
9.
Department of Health. (2006b) Bird flu (avian influenza). See: www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4131016&chk=7GIswL (accessed 10 September 2006).
10.
Department of Health. (2006c) Clinical management of patients with an influenza-like illness during an influenza pandemic. See: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/58/11/04135811.pdf (accessed 29 October 2006).
11.
Department of Health. (2006d) Effect on essential services. See: www.dh.gov.uk/PandemicFlu/ImpactOfFluPandemic/ImpactArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4135535&chk=/b4lyv (accessed 29 October 2006).
12.
Department of Health. (2006e) The NHS Emergency Planning guidance 2005; underpinning materials. Critical Care Contingency Planning in the event of an emergency where the number of patients substantially exceeds normal critical care capacity. Consultation August 2006. See: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/76/19/04137619.pdf (accessed 10 September 2006).
13.
Department of Health. (2006f) Planned public information and advice. See: www.dh.gov.uk/PandemicFlu/Communications/CommunicationsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4136385&chk=jsQY0s (accessed 24 October 2006).
14.
Department of Health. (2006g) Pandemic flu front page. See: www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/EmergencyPlanning/PandemicFlu/fs/en (accessed 10 September 2006).
15.
Department of Health. (2006h) Pandemic flu front page. See: www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/EmergencyPlanning/PandemicFlu/fs/en (accessed 27 October 2006).
16.
Department of Health. (2006i) Using antivirals in the event of pandemic influenza. See: www.dh.gov.uk/PandemicFlu/Antivirals/AntiviralsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4135352&chk=MIH0Hk (accessed 27 October 2006).
17.
Health Protection Agency. (2006a) Frequently asked questions on avian influenza (prepared by the Health Protection Agency and Health Protection Scotland). See: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/influenza/avian/avianflufaq_vaccines.htm (accessed 24 October 2006).
18.
Health Protection Agency. (2006b) HPA pandemic influenza contingency plan. See: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/influenza/pandemic/documents/HPAPanFluContPlanSept06.pdf (accessed 24 October 2006).
19.
Health Protection Agency. (2006c) Health Protection Agency revised interim guidelines for investigation and reporting of suspected human cases of avian influenza. See: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/influenza/avian/case_definition.htm (accessed 24 October 2006).
20.
United States Department of Human Health Services. (2005) HHS pandemic influenza plan supplement four infection control. See: www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/sup4.html#occ (accessed 22 October 2006).
21.
United States Department of Human Health Services. (2006) Interim guidance on planning for the use of surgical masks and respirators in healthcare settings during an influenza pandemic . See: www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/maskguidancehc.html (accessed 22 October 2006).
22.
World Health Organization. (2005a) The writing committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) consultation on human influenza A/H5 avian influenza A (H5N1) infection in humans. New England Journal of Medicine353: 1374-85. See: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/353/13/1374(accessed22October2006)andcorrectionathttp://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/354/8/884 (accessed 22 October 2006).
23.
World Health Organization. (2005b) Global influenza preparedness plan: the role of WHO and recommendations for national measures before and during pandemics. See: www.who.int/entity/csr/resources/publications/influenza/GIP_2005_5Eweb.pdf (accessed 29 October 2006).
