Meeting

In March and early April 2009, a new influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) emerged in Mexico and the United States. During the first few weeks of surveillance, the virus spread worldwide to 30 countries (as of May 11) by human-to-human transmission, causing the World Heath Organization to raise its pandemic alert to level 5 of 6. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. More than 100 countries have now reported cases of human infection with the novel swine origin H1N1 Influenza A virus -- a number that has been increasing as the virus moves from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere. The story of how this new influenza virus spread out of Mexico to other parts of North America and then on to Europe, the Far East, and now Australia and the Pacific Rim countries has its origins in the global interconnectedness of travel, trade, and tourism.

This novel origin influenza A virus has now become the first influenza pandemic of the twenty-first century.  In order to better understand the domestic and global scientific, public health, and policy dimensions of this new pandemic, the IOM’s Forum on Microbial Threats will convene a public workshop on 15 – 16 September 2009, to explore issues concerning:

• viral evolution, epidemiology, and surveillance for the new H1N1 Influenza A virus;
• the economic and public health impacts of the global response to the H1N1 Influenza A virus;
• the application of lessons learned from the infection patterns and experiences with the H1N1 influenza A virus in the Southern Hemisphere to countries north of the equator; and,
• vaccine and drug development, availability, accessibility, and equity.