Influenza Transmission Strategy Development Group
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
An influenza pandemic will occur when a new influenza virus strain develops the ability to spread easily from one person to another. Very few people will have any natural immunity to the virus and up to half of the population could become ill with pandemic influenza at some point.
Everyone will need to work together to reduce the spread of the virus. Although simple hygiene precautions such as hand washing will help, we do not currently know which hygiene measures are the most effective. Nor do we know enough about how influenza is spread to say for certain whether or not it will be worthwhile for members of the public to wear face masks and if so, in what circumstances.
We need to design new studies that will give us clear answers to these questions to help governments around the world make policy decisions based on firm evidence. We will assemble experts in influenza and infection control to look again at the existing evidence and decide upon the design of some newer studies that will answer the questions once and for all. These experts are scattered across the globe, and so we need funding to bring them together, face to face, in dedicated workshops where they can interact and design new studies.
Everyone will need to work together to reduce the spread of the virus. Although simple hygiene precautions such as hand washing will help, we do not currently know which hygiene measures are the most effective. Nor do we know enough about how influenza is spread to say for certain whether or not it will be worthwhile for members of the public to wear face masks and if so, in what circumstances.
We need to design new studies that will give us clear answers to these questions to help governments around the world make policy decisions based on firm evidence. We will assemble experts in influenza and infection control to look again at the existing evidence and decide upon the design of some newer studies that will answer the questions once and for all. These experts are scattered across the globe, and so we need funding to bring them together, face to face, in dedicated workshops where they can interact and design new studies.
Technical Summary
In the event of an influenza pandemic, authoritative advice on infection control will be necessary across a wide range of settings from healthcare to general household. The evidence base on influenza transmission is both limited and hotly debated, especially in relation to the possible effectiveness of respiratory protective equipment such as surgical face masks and higher grade respirators. New studies are required to addresss these issues, which currently obstruct the formulation of definitive practical guidance, and the setting of public and institutional policies for the use of face masks and respirators. We propose two expert workshops to debate and agree definitive methodologies for new studies, capable of addressing the outstanding issues in a highly pragmatic way.