[Influenza A/H1N1 pandemic: central European experience and perspective of prevention and control of this disease].

Abstract

When the influenza pandemic A/H1N1 emerged in 2009, European countries activated their national pandemic plan that were initiated in 2005 when ECDC was established in Stockholm. This agency from the European Commission played its role to strengthen capacities of Member States. ECDC essentially focused attention on surveillance and its reinforcement, epidemic intelligence and guidance. Nevertheless, main challenges remain to be met: continuous adjustment of assumptions, weaknesses in national plans (e.g. no stockpile of antibiotics), paucity of investment in scientific research, no control of transmission from human to animal, persistence of the impact of the pandemic in the subsequent years and eventually the worrying unpreparedness of developing countries that paid a huge toll during previous pandemics.