Welcome to the Department for Culture, Media & Sport’s
Flu Pandemic Information Site.

 

"Most experts believe that it is a matter of when, not whether, another influenza pandemic strikes."
Chief Medical Officer, 2002

This site:

This site offers advice and guidance to DCMS sector organisations on preparing business continuity planning for a human influenza pandemic. Here you will also find latest news as well as key facts and essential external links.

A human influenza pandemic occurs when a new flu virus emerges, which is markedly different from recently circulating strains, and there is little or no immunity to it in the human population. It is not avian (or bird) flu.

Avian influenza (AI) is mentioned on this site in the context that, should it combine with human seasonal flu, it could produce a new human flu strain that will cause a pandemic.

Seasonal flu – Occurs in the UK population as a matter of course – it's ‘ordinary' flu.

Avian flu affects birds – While it has transmitted to people in Asia in very close proximity to birds (eg. poultry workers), the virus does not pass easily, and there is no relation between chickens with avian flu on a farm and a person getting flu in their home.

Pandemic flu affecting humans – Occurs due to the emergence of a new flu virus which is markedly different from recently circulating strains.

Background:

The likelihood of a human flu pandemic has increased over the last two years due to cases of avian flu virus (H5N1) in humans in SE Asia and recently in Turkey, Iraq and Azerbaijan.

In response to the increased likelihood of a pandemic virus, the Government asks for immediate and prudent planning across all sectors and levels.

Although the full impact of a pandemic won't be known until it hits, the more prepared we are the better able we will be to maintain our own business continuity and that of organisations who look to us for advice and guidance.

Our role is to facilitate the flow of information between Whitehall and you, our sponsored bodies, enabling you to make sensible and timely decisions.

Latest news:

DCMS is working closely with VisitBritain and other tourism and heritage organisations to ensure that the public is given accurate and balanced advice about access to the countryside and rural visitor sites in the event of an AI outbreak.

Visitors and the industry should be reassured that AI is very different to "foot and mouth" disease, with the response largely confined to the locality of the outbreak. The vast majority of visitor attractions, rights of way and access to public and open country are entirely unaffected. It is safe to visit a place with birds.

• 30 August 2007 - Department of Health, Cabinet Office and the Health Protection Agency have published a report outlining the lessons identified following Exercise Winter Willow.

• 16 March 2007 - Department of Health has published a revised document setting out the government strategic aims for responding to an influenza pandemic. Department of Health are seeking comments on the Plan and stakeholders should respond as directed in the paper.

• 3 February 2007 - An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (the H5N1 strain) has been confirmed at a turkey farm in Holton, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, England.

• 18 August 2006 - The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has prepared a risk assessment on the risk from avian influenza to visitors to public parks and open waters.

• To date, available evidence from human cases of H5N1 indicates that no sustained human-to-human transmission has occurred. As a result, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) pandemic alert remains at Phase 3 (of 6 Phases). An explanation of the phases of alert can be found on the WHO website.

This site will be regularly updated as more information becomes known.

If you would like to be informed of updates to this site please email influenza information updates.

Last Update - 04 September 2007