Use of antiviral agents and other measures in an influenza pandemic

Influenza viruses give rise to epidemics virtually every year and they occasionally also lead to pandemics (i.e. epidemics on a global scale). Unlike the epidemics, influenza pandemics are, to a great extent, unpredictable. Thus although it is generally expected that another influenza pandemic will occur, we cannot predict when this will be. Furthermore, if a pandemic arises abroad it is difficult to predict how long it will be before it reaches our own country. And once it has arrived here, we can only make a partial estimate of how many people will fall ill, which population groups are at greater risk and which individuals, being ill, run a greater risk of complications.

Committee

• Professor J van der Noordaa, Emeritus Professor of Virology; University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Chairman
• Professor GJ Bonsel, Professor of Social Medicine; University Medical Centre, Amsterdam
• Dr PJ van Dalen, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, consultant
• Professor JT van Dissel, Professor of Infectious Diseases; Leiden University Medical Centre
• Dr GA van Essen, Julius Centre for Health Science and Primary Healthcare; Utrecht University Medical Centre, general practitioner
• Professor JWM van der Meer, Professor of Internal Medicine; St Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen
• Professor ADME Osterhaus, Professor of Virology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam
• Dr RRR Huijsman-Rubingh, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, consultant
• Professor EJ Ruitenberg, Professor of International Public Health; Free University, Amsterdam
• Professor P Smits, Professor of Pharmacology; St Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen
• Dr EW Steyerberg, Institute for Social Healthcare, Rotterdam
• ACG Voordouw, Committee for the Safety of Medicines, The Hague
• Dr K Groeneveld, Health Council, The Hague, Secretary