Pandemic influenza

The Government is investing considerable resource in contingency planning for a potential flu pandemic in the UK.

Department of Health

• Department of Health pandemic flu guidance includes key facts, FAQs, the National Framework for responding to a Pandemic Influenza, infection control guidance as well as the Chief Medical Officer’s guide for health professionals and the public.

Health and Safety Executive

HSE has developed general guidance for employers and employees to use if the Chief Medical Officer declares a pandemic flu within the UK.

• Pandemic Flu: Workplace Guidance

Healthcare workers

Pandemic Influenza: Guidance for Infection Control in Hospitals and Primary Care Settings has been developed by Department of Health (DH) and the Health Protection Agency (HPA), in consultation with HSE to facilitate planning by NHS Trusts in advance of the emergence of the next influenza pandemic. This guidance, below, includes advice on preparedness planning, occupational health, infection control precautions (including the use of personal protective equipment), and environmental infection control.

• Pandemic influenza: guidance for infection control in hospitals and primary care settings

Laboratory workers

The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) has issued guidance for laboratory workers handling flu viruses, including avian, animal and human influenza viruses. This covers routine work with the viruses, both intentional and diagnostic.

• Advice on working with influenza viruses

Business continuity planning

For the purposes of business continuity planning, local authorities and all businesses will wish to consider the likely effects, including any health and safety effects, of a pandemic on their organisations and the measures that may need to be taken to manage these.

General advice can be found at

• Pandemic flu: A national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic