Avian Influenza

Guidelines and recommendations for Avian Influenza

Laboratory Diagnosis and Biosafety

     Report of the Expert Group Meeting to Standardize Avian Influenza Diagnosis in Referral Laboratories in India

     Recommended laboratory tests to identify influenza A/H5 virus in specimens from patients with an influenza-like illness.

      WHO criteria for accepting positive results of H5N1 infection in humans from national reference laboratories.

     WHO guidelines for the collection of human specimens for laboratory diagnosis of avian influenza infection.

     Collecting, preserving and shipping specimens for the diagnosis of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection- Guide for field operations.

     WHO guidelines for the storage and transport of human and animal specimens for laboratory diagnosis of suspected avian influenza A infection.

     WHO laboratory biosafety guidelines for handling specimens suspected of containing avian influenza A virus.

      WHO recommendations on the use of rapid testing for influenza diagnosis.

     WHO reference laboratories for diagnosis of influenza A/H5 infection.

     Access to influenza A (H5N1) viruses.

     Availability of H5N1 prototype strains for influenza pandemic vaccine development, February 2005.

     Guidelines for the use of seasonal influenza vaccine in humans at risk of H5N1 infection.

     WHO laboratory guidelines for the collection of animal specimens for diagnosis of influenza infection.

Surveillance case management and preparedness

     Avian influenza - fact sheet.

     Avian influenza A (H5N1) - Report in the Weekly Epidemiological Record.

     Control of avian influenza A (H5N1): public health concerns.

     Influenza A (H5N1):WHO Interim Infection Control Guidelines for Health Care Facilities.

     Influenza Pandemic Plan. The Role of WHO and Guidelines for National and Regional Planning.

     Influenza pandemic preparedness plan. The role of WHO and guidelines for national or regional planning. Geneva, Switzerland, April 1999.

     Interim guidelines for health monitoring of persons involved in culling of animals potentially infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.

     Production of pilot lots of inactivated influenza vaccines from reassortants derived from avian influenza viruses. Interim biosafety risk assessment.

     Preliminary clinical and epidemiological description of influenza A (H5N1) in Viet Nam.

     Public Health Considerations in the Application of Measures to Contain and Control Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Outbreaks in Poultry.

     WHO consultation on priority public health interventions before and during an influenza pandemic.

     WHO guidelines for global surveillance of influenza A/H5.

     WHO Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Checklist new!

     WHO interim guidelines on clinical management of humans infected by influenza A (H5N1).

     WHO interim recommendations for the protection of persons involved in the mass slaughter of animals potentially infected with highly pathogenic influenza viruses.

Food Safety

     Avian influenza A (H5) in rural areas in Asia: food safety considerations.

     Avian influenza: food safety issues.

Behavioural change interventions

     Guidelines for Developing Behavioural Change Interventions in the Context of Avian Influenza [PDF 268 KB]