The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated clinical guidelines for managing influenza, including both seasonal flu and potential pandemic threats. These guidelines are intended for healthcare providers and policymakers involved in epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
New guidance pertains to the use of antiviral agents as well as immune modulating steroids, addressing seasonal influenza viruses and a novel type A influenza that has been causing severe illness in infected people. It also covers animal-derived viruses such as avian and swine influenza, which carries the potential risk for a global pandemic. Although these are animal influenza viruses that have not undergone smooth human-to-human transmission, they cause global health concern.
Developed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, the guidelines form a part of WHO's strategy for influenza including Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) framework.
