Pandemic Guidelines

Clinical guidelines

Clinical guidance for patients with an influenza-like illness during an influenza pandemic (PDF, 1.1 MB). Published January 2007.

Clinical management of patients with an influenza-like illness during an influenza pandemic from the British Infection Society, British Thoracic Society, and Health Protection Agency in collaboration with the Department of Health.

Infection control guidance for the health sector

• Pandemic (H1N1) influenza: a summary of guidance for infection control in healthcare settings  [External link]. This summary takes account of interim guidance from the World Health Organization on Infection prevention and control in health care for confirmed and suspected cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and influenza like illness.
• Pandemic flu: guidance for infection control in critical care  [External link].  Guidance for infection control in critical care has been developed to assist critical care units to plan and conduct their pandemic response
• Pandemic (H1N1) influenza:  a summary of guidance for infection control in healthcare settings  [External link].  Published in January 2010 
• Pandemic influenza: guidance for infection control in hospitals and primary care settings    [External link].  Although this has been superseded, the November 2007 Pandemic Influenza: Guidance for Infection control in Hospitals and Primary care settings provides fuller guidance for planning for a future pandemic where the severity and trasmissibility of the pandemic strain will be different to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09
• Pandemic influenza: summary infection control guidance for ambulance services   [External link] 
• Specific guidance for pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza was issued by Department of Health in December 2009.
• Infection prevention and control in health care for confirmed or suspected cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and influenza-like illnesses  [External link]

Infection control guidance for non-NHS sectors:

Infection control guidance, jointly developed by the HPA and the Department of Health, for use in the event of an influenza pandemic is available for some non-NHS sectors. Click to download PDF files from the DH website.

Each of the guidance has standard text, which explains what pandemic influenza is, how it is spread and how you can protect yourself and others from it. It then addresses issues relevant to the particular sector. For example, the guidance for the hospitality industry includes sections for hotel managers on decontaminating hotel rooms and the advice to give to guests.

• Pandemic flu guidance for businesses: risk assessment in the occupational setting [External link] Last revised 27 March 2009.
• Pandemic flu: infection control guidance for funeral directors  [External link]. Last revised November 2009. 
• Pandemic flu: guidance for cleaning staff and refuse collectors in non-health care settings [External link]. Last revised 30 January 2008.
• Pandemic flu guidance for Fire and Rescue Service  [External link]. Last revised 30 January 2008. 
• Pandemic flu guidance for the hospitality industry  [External link]. Last revised 30 January 2008.
• Pandemic flu guidance for the Police Service   [External link]. Last revised 30 January 2008.
• Pandemic flu guidance for environmental health practitioners [External link].  Last revised 02 October 2008.

Sector specific guidance