Article
Assessment of population non-pharmaceutical interventions and recommendations for operation critical infrastructure in European Influenza Pandemic Plans
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Authors
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Olga Hovardovska
- Department for Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| Published: | September 6, 2024 |
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Outline
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Background: In the 21st century, Europe has experienced several outbreaks of respiratory pathogens, including influenza and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The health crises have demonstrated the potential to disrupt the operation of Critical Infrastructures (CI) and highlighted the importance of a multisector response to the infection threats for the population’s well-being. We assessed various population non-pharmaceutical interventions (PNPIs) suggested to mitigate the spread of respiratory infections within a population and recommendations for operating key CIs in Influenza pandemic plans (IPPs).
Methods: We have assessed PNPIs (quarantine, hygiene measures, closure of shops, venues, education facilities, mass events, general lockdown) and recommendations for operating key CIs (Health, Transport, Education, Water, Energy) in available IPPs (2006-2021) of 22 European countries.
Results: Of the 22 European IPPs assessed, all 22 plans provided hygiene recommendations; 20 recommended quarantine/isolation measures; 18 IPPs also mentioned the closure of education facilities, while only 14 plans mentioned the closure of mass events; and 2 plans proposed the closure of shops/venues. The general lockdown measures were not included in IPPs. Detailed recommendations for operating Health CIs were described in all IPPs. However, only 9 plans gave recommendations for Transport CIs, 5 - for Educational CIs, and 3 plans – for Water and Energy CIs. Recommendations for CIs, except Health, were mentioned partially and were not described in detail.
Conclusions: Our findings show that the countries’ IPPs differed in terms of detail and thought, and mainly focused on the healthcare system. Recommendations for operating during the pandemic and the implementation of PNPIs for other CIs and essential services were mentioned only partially; the general lockdown was not predicted. To emphasize the pandemic preparedness of European countries and support the resilience of CIs in future respiratory outbreaks, changes in IPPs are needed.
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
The authors declare that an ethics committee vote is not required.
