There is an increasing risk of an influenza pandemic following the unprecedented outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5N1), particularly in Asia, since December 2003. To date, more than 140 confirmed human cases have been reported from five countries in Asia, as well as 4 cases in Turkey.

In the early stages of the emergence of a potential pandemic strain of the virus, it may be possible to avert further spread by implementing rapid response and containment measures, including large-scale administration of antiviral drugs to the population in the affected areas together with additional public health measures such as quarantine and social distancing. If such rapid interventions are successful, it offers the possibility of preventing hundreds of millions of cases of serious illness and millions of deaths and minimizing the social and economic impact of a future pandemic.

However, it must be stressed that containment can succeed only if the earliest sign of a potential influenza pandemic is detected very rapidly and containment measures are fully implemented within a very short period. To enable this, the challenges are considerable and many issues have to be addressed.

The Government of Japan and WHO are organizing this meeting to discuss the issues and challenges of responding rapidly to a potential influenza pandemic and to explore solutions. The specific objectives of the meeting are:

(1) to discuss the early response measures that should be implemented, if and when a potential human pandemic strain emerges;

(2) to discuss and recommend regional and international mechanisms, including early detection and reporting of events with pandemic potential, stockpiles of antivirals and other supplies, and operational support for early response efforts in Asia; and

(3) to recommend necessary actions to address major issues and challenges associated with implementing early-response measures at country level, particularly those related to early detection and reporting, and the implementation of containment measures.

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