Using lessons from the past to plan for pandemic flu

Analysis and comment Avian influenza Preparing for the pandemicNo one can predict whether influenza A (H5N1) will cause the next human flu pandemic and there is a wide range of opinion about how we should prepare.Hilary Pickles argues that the UK government's contingency plans don't go far enough and we need to learn from experience with other zoonotic diseases.David Salisbury from the UK government responds on p 784.However, Bonneux and Van Damme question whether the focus on one virus is right.We also asked a microbiologist, a general practitioner, and an intensive care specialist for their perspectives Using lessons from the past to plan for pandemic flu Hilary PicklesPlans for pandemic flu in the United Kingdom are said to be among the best in the developed world. 1 2 Could they be even better if we learnt all the important lessons from the past?The Canadians have said of their handling of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), "There was much to learn-in part because too many earlier lessons were ignored." 3 The responses to AIDS, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), foot and mouth disease, and SARS provide examples of mistakes to be avoided and good practice to follow.This paper outlines some lessons that are yet to be incorporated into current UK planning for pandemic flu, as judged by what has been made public to date, but many more examples exist.