Pandemic influenza

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Background and legislation

An influenza pandemic occurs when a new strain of influenza virus emerges, spreading around the world and infecting many people at once. An influenza virus capable of causing a pandemic is one that people have no natural immunity to, can easily spread from person to person, and is capable of causing severe disease.

A number of countries around the world are experiencing outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) affecting mainly poultry (chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys). The virus responsible for the current outbreak is H5N1 - a type of influenza not normally associated with human disease. Small numbers of people have become infected with the H5N1 virus, causing serious illness and/or death.

The World Health Organization is worried that an avian influenza virus and a human influenza virus might mix, or the avian flu virus could change in another way, resulting in a new strain of influenza virus that can be easily passed from person to person.

The new influenza virus could spread rapidly around the world, infecting many people. This would be an influenza pandemic.

New Zealand has been planning for this for some time. The Ministry of Health is working with the health sector and other Government agencies to ensure New Zealand is as prepared as possible for a potential pandemic.

Related legislation

Legislation related to Pandemic influenza is provided below:

Page last updated: April 2007