WHO strategy to fight flu pandemics

WHO strategy to fight flu pandemics

1. The World Health Organization has released a Global Influenza Strategy for 2019-2030. It aims at protecting people across the world from influenza. Influenza or flu is a contagious disease caused by influenza viruses. According to WHO, influenza is one of the world’s greatest public health challenges.
2. The objectives of the strategy are a) prevent seasonal influenza, b) control the spread of influenza from animals to humans and, c) Prepare for the next influenza pandemic. A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and spreads around the world, and most people do not have immunity
3. The WHO strategy has recommended countries to formulate a special influenza programme. This would help in disease surveillance, prevention, control, and preparedness for influenza.
4. It has also recommended the development of more effective and more accessible vaccines and antiviral treatments.