Information
October 2005
Canada's National and International Collaboration on Pandemic Influenza Planning
The greatest known emerging health threat that we face as a global community is pandemic influenza, which can affect the entire globe. There were three influenza pandemics in the last century and scientists recognize that another is inevitable.
Currently, avian influenza H5N1 has the most potential to become a pandemic. Since 2003 there have been 117 confirmed human cases of avian flu and about 60 deaths. Scientists agree the more people affected by the avian virus the greater the likelihood the virus will mutate to create a new influenza strain to which humans have no immunity. If the new strain has the ability to transmit efficiently from person to person, the virus could spread rapidly and result in significant illness, death and social disruption.
A cornerstone of Canada's preparedness plan is to provide leadership and to collaborate on pandemic influenza issues at an international level. Canada continues to work multilaterally to build mutually beneficial partnerships to address the global threat of a pandemic influenza. Canada is in active discussion with the World Health Organization and our other partners in the Global Health Security Initiative (G7 countries, Mexico, the European Union, and the World Health Organization) on the appropriate measures needed to quickly identify and manage the risk of human infection with a new influenza virus.
Over the past few years, Canada has provided continuous support to the WHO and the countries affected by avian influenza. For example, Canada deployed a mobile lab to Vietnam to help with rapid H5N1 avian influenza diagnosis. Canada has also provided public health expertise through the WHO in Thailand, Vietnam, and China.
In September 2005, Canada announced a five-year, $15-million project to strengthen the capacity of public health systems in Southeast Asia and China to detect and respond effectively to emerging infectious diseases. The Canada-Asia Regional Emerging Infectious Diseases (CAREID) Project will focus on assisting the region by:
- improving surveillance and outbreak investigation and response;
- strengthening lab systems;
- increasing preparedness; and
- improving effective communications and public education.
The project is the result of meetings and consultations with international partners, as well as a
mission to the region to assess their capacity needs to combat emerging infectious diseases.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has expanded the Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN), a Canadian-managed internet-based system that monitors reports in five languages and serves as the world's early warning system for infectious disease outbreaks.
In October 2005, Canada is hosting an International Meeting of Ministers of Health to facilitate international co-operation in pandemic preparedness. The meeting will provide a forum for
identifying priority actions in the global response to a pandemic influenza. Ministers will discuss four key themes:
- intersectoral collaboration on the animal-human health interface;
- risk communication and assessment;
- development, supply, and access to vaccines and antivirals; and
- surveillance and capacity building.
On the domestic front, Canada was one of the first countries in the world to develop a  national Pandemic Influenza Plan. The plan, released in February 2004, was developed by federal, provincial, and territorial governments, together with more than 200 health experts. The plan outlines actions to be taken by the various levels of government, so that if there is a pandemic, there will be a coordinated response that protects the health of Canadians. The plan is currently being updated to reflect current knowledge.
Vaccines, the most effective public health tool to fight an influenza pandemic, provide immunity against the influenza virus but cannot be produced until the pandemic strain of influenza has emerged. In the meantime, it is important that Canada builds vaccine production capacity to prepare for a pandemic. That is why the Government of Canada has put in place a ten-year contract with a domestic manufacturer. The contract includes a pandemic readiness component to strengthen production capacity and pandemic vaccine production. In addition, the Government of Canada has committed $34 million over five years to assist in the development and testing of a prototype ("mock") pandemic influenza vaccine.
Until a pandemic vaccine is available, antivirals will be an important part of our response to a pandemic. Following the recommendation of federal, provincial, and territorial governments, a National Antiviral Stockpile was established for the prevention and early treatment of priority groups identified by the Pandemic Influenza Committee against an influenza pandemic. Combined, federal, provincial and territorial governments currently have approximately 40 million capsules of oseltamivir, enough to treat four million people. Specifically, governments currently own 35 million capsules, with another five million on order.
Another element of the pandemic plan is the public health measures that outline what actions communities and individuals can take to protect themselves.
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