WHO guideline on public health and social measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza

Influenza pandemics occur at unpredictable intervals, and cause considerable morbidity and mortality. In the early stages of an influenza pandemic, effective vaccines and antivirals may be unavailable or in short supply, leaving public health and social measures (PHSM) as the only type of countermeasure that can be quickly implemented and scaled up in most countries. The primary objective of PHSM is to delay and reduce the peak number of cases, and related demands on the health-care system, and to reduce the overall number of cases and their health and socioeconomic impacts. This WHO guideline, developed in accordance with international standards for evidence-based guidelines, provides recommendations on the PHSM that could be used to reduce influenza transmission and mitigate epidemics and pandemics in community settings, and updates the guidance published in 2019 (Non-pharmaceutical public health measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza). This document is intended for use by national and local health authorities, and other stakeholders involved in the decision-making or implementation of PHSM during an influenza epidemic or pandemic and can also serve as a supporting resource for the development and updating of national influenza pandemic preparedness plans.