Implementation of the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Six-Month Status Report

This report summarises the progress that the United States (US) Government has made in implementing the actions in the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan, which was released in November 2005. According to the report, 92% of all actions due within 6 months of release of the Implementation Plan have been completed.

The report summarises the state of progress on each completed or in-progress action. Some of the listed progress includes:

• Federal Pandemic Preparedness Plans - all Federal Departments are developing their own pandemic preparedness plans.
• Statewide Pandemic Planning Summits - pandemic planning summits have been carried out in all States.
• Community-Wide Mitigation Strategies - early school closure, cancellation of public gatherings and other “social distancing" behaviors have been taught as ways to reduce illness during a pandemic.
• Rapid Diagnostic Tests - tests have been developed to rapidly detect a pandemic virus, allowing for rapid treatment of infected persons.
• Bird Surveillance System - a nationwide wild bird surveillance system has been implemented to provide early warning of an avian influenza outbreak.
• International Efforts - The US has invested US$434 million in an effort to build infrastructure in affected regions of the world to rapidly recognise and respond to an outbreak of a pandemic virus.

The report also lists work that is still underway and has yet to be completed, including the development of best practices for state and local entities, improvements in mortality reporting by communities, and encouragement of the development of pandemic plans for all schools, individuals and families.