Respiratory Pathogens Pandemic Preparedness
Key Resources for NGOs in Development & Humanitarian Settings(October 2022)
Library of Previous Guidance on Influenza & Pandemic Threats (including Novel Coronavirus)
(March 2006 – July 2020)

The information provided here has been developed to help inform Save the Children staff and offices about Influenza and Pandemic Threats, and is posted here to make this information more accessible to them. We make no representation about the suitability of these materials for other individuals or organizations, and accept no responsibility related to their use other than by Save the Children staff and offices.
Much of the information on this page was originally posted in 2006 to address the Avian Influenza H5N1 pandemic threat. Two additional concerning pandemic threats emerged in late 2012 and early 2013: Avian Influenza H7N9, and Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, not an influenza virus, but related to the virus that caused SARS and to Coronaviruses in bats). All three of these, H5N1, H7N9, and MERS, are RNA viruses with high rates of mutation. The concern has been that any of these could evolve into a virus capable of sustained person-to-person respiratory transmission, and potentially cause a severe pandemic. We have expanded some content on this page to address the newer threats. We also believe that much of the information here is relevant to pandemic threats from respiratory viruses beyond the H5N1 virus. Some of these documents also apply to seasonal influenza (as noted).
2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Information & Guidance
- WHO: Coronavirus
- US CDC: Novel Coronavirus 2019
- European CDC: Novel Coronavirus - China
- Univ. of Minn.: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (for late afternoon/early evening US eastern time summaries)
As of the date this page was last updated (please see the bottom of this page), we believe that the information below is relevant to 2019-nCoV. Difference between flu and 2019-nCoV which we know about include the following: antiviral medications for flu, like Tamiflu, don’t work for 2019-nCoV, and 2019-nCov has a longer incubation period, the time between infection and when symptoms appear, than does flu. According to the US CDC, the newly emerged coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that seems to be spreading much like flu. Guidance developed for influenza pandemic preparedness would be appropriate in the event the current COVID-19 outbreak triggers a pandemic.

Key Information for All Staff
- Mitigation Strategies for Communities with Local COVID-19 Transmission (US CDC, March 10, 2020)
- Community Mitigation Guidance for COVID-19 Response (US CDC, Feb. 2020)
- COVID-19 Symptoms, Transmission, & Prevention (SC, March 2020)
- Seasonal Flu, Pandemic Flu, and You - What SC Staff Should Know and Be Prepared For (Aug. 2018)
- Pandemic Threats: Summary Travel Guidance for SC Staff (Aug. 2018)
- Get Your Household Ready for Pandemic Flu (16 pages. US CDC, 2017)
- Flu & You (CDC)
- People at Higher Risk for COVID-19 Complications (CDC)
- Caring for Someone Sick at Home (20 pages) US CDC
- Influenza Self-Care (metric measures, Gov. of Alberta, 2009)
- Flu Symptoms, Transmission & Prevention (Sep. 2009)
- Home Stockpiling of Food & Essential Items (Feb. 2019)
- Staff Repatriation and Relocation (Feb. 2019)
- Voice & Data Connections from Home (Mar. 2006)
- Westport/Washington Guidance on Staff Absence (Sep. 2009)
- Masks (Feb. 2020)

Image credit: courtesy of the National Museum of Health and Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C., United States.
Recommended Internet Sites for All Staff

Additional Information for Health Professionals & Outbreak Responders
- COVID-19 Epidemiology, Mitigation & Priorities for NGO Response (presentation, July 1, 2020)
- Covid-19 Scenario Dimensions (SC, 11 Feb. 2020)
- Covid-19: Guidance for Businesses & Employers, US CDC (Feb. 2020)
- Pandemic Threats: News & Guidance Links (August 2018)
- Top 10 Resources on Pandemic Preparedness & Response (January 2020)
- Pandemic Preparedness Summary Checklist for SC Country & Field Offices (August 2018)
- Severe Pandemic Flu: Challenges for Preparedness & Response (1 page) (Sep. 2011)
- Pandemic Influenza Planning Assumptions (March 2015)
- Influenza Point Persons Roles and Responsibilities (May 2006)
- Tamiflu: To Stockpile or Not to Stockpile (Mar. 2009)
- Updated SC Covid-19 office notice for local adaptation (29 Feb. 2020)
- Covid-19: 7 office notices for local adaption (SC, March 2020)
- Cough & Sneeze notice & Handwashing notice
- Influenza Procedures & Supplies for the Westport & DC Offices (July 2006)
- Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic, US Dep. of Labor, 2009 (2009)
- Business Continuity Planning Guide, Gov. of New Zealand (Dec. 2009)
- Potential Pandemic Severity - Appraisals by Authoritative Sources (Sep. 2019)
- Summary of the Threat, & SC Activities & Priorities (Feb. 2017)
- WHO Outbreak Communications Guidelines (2005)

Program Response
- Overview of Public Health & Social Measures in the Context of COVID-19 (WHO, 18 May 2020)
- Social Distancing for COVID-19 (European CDC)
- Guidance on Community Social Distancing During COVID-19 Outbreak (Africa CDC, March 20, 2020)
- Save the Children's COVID-19 Program Framework and Guidance (Version 2.0, 23 March 2020)
- Save the Children’s COVID-19 Program Adaptations (March 2020)
- N95 Respirators/masks: Crisis Strategies (US CDC)
- Non-pharmaceutical public health measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza (WHO, Oct. 2019, evidence review on NPIs, but lacks guidance on how to adapt & implement these measures)
- US CDC Pages on Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (includes guidance on how to implement NPIs)
- Leadership During A Pandemic: What Your Municipality Can Do (USAID, 2011, goes well beyond the health sector)
- COVID-19: Basic Primary Health Response (2X2 table, updated June 2020)
- H2P Community Planning & Response Curriculum (CORE Group, 2009)
- Community Case Management during an Influenza Outbreak: A Training Package for CHWs (WHO, 2011)
- WHO Guidelines for Humanitarian Agencies (Updated 5/08, for Refugee/IDP Populations but more broadly applicable)
- ECDC Menu of Public Health Measures (June 2009, 1.9 MB)
- Guidance & Template for Country Planning (H2P) (Feb. 2019)
- Pandemic Flu & Kids (Feb. 2019)
- HIVAIDS Program Guidance (July 2006)

Advocacy
- Are We Prepared to Help Low-Resource Communities Cope with a Severe Influenza Pandemic? Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses Editor's Choice paper, Nov. 2012 (authored by SC staff).
The 1918 Pandemic
- The "Spanish” Flu in Danbury, Bethel, & Beyond (presentation)
- 1918 Influenza: The Mother of All Pandemics (Taubenberger & Morens, Emerg. Infect. Dis. (Jan. 2006)
- Global mortality (Johnson & Mueller, Bull. Hist. Med. (2002)
- The Great Pandemic in the US: CDC & Univ. of Mich.
- 1918 in Bethel & Danbury Connecticut (near Westport)
These documents & links are also available at Save the Children's Resource Centre.
Save the Children/US staff may access these and a few other documents, with use of a password, on the Travel Safety and Security pages of SaveNet: Avian & Pandemic Flu Updates & Guidelines
Last Updated: July 1, 2020
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