EDITORIAL - Preparing for a pandemic

Not too long ago, there was a rush to be vaccinated against Influenza A(H1N1). In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic of what was originally called swine flu. By the time the WHO announced the end of the pandemic in August 2010, Influenza A(H1N1) had killed 17,000 people worldwide. In the Philippines, the Department of Health counted eight confirmed fatalities.

Since the A(H1N1) outbreak, is the Philippines better prepared for a pandemic? There is no national plan to deal with such a public health emergency, according to some 200 representatives of state agencies and international organizations who participated in a pandemic disaster exercise last week in Manila. The lack of a national plan is just one of 11 gaps in the country’s pandemic disaster preparedness that were noted by the participants.

Among other things, the participants in the exercise noted that the capacity of public health facilities needed to be enhanced. Effective coordination is essential among agencies in charge of disaster mitigation. Regional alerts need to be fine-tuned. Military reservists can be tapped during a serious pandemic, but their capability needs proper assessment. The government must also be prepared to set up containment areas and buffer zones.

The A(H1N1) outbreak was just the latest in a long string of deadly flu strains to spread around the globe. The ease of international travel has made it easier to spread diseases. The world saw this in the recent outbreaks of avian flu and, before that, SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which was first reported in Hong Kong. The outbreaks led to the use of thermal imaging equipment at international airports. While scientific advances have made it easier to stop flu pandemics, thousands can still die before the necessary medication is developed and a disease is contained.

The Philippines has experienced these flu outbreaks but has largely been spared from the high death tolls in other countries. This is no excuse, however, to ignore the suggestions drawn up during the pandemic preparedness exercise. Some of the measures may seem like overreactions, until disaster strikes.