Global task force for influenza

摘要

Ahuman flu pandemic could cause 20% of the world's population to become ill. Within a few months, close to 30 million people would need to be hospitalized, a quarter of whom would die. Although these estimates are speculative, they are among the more optimistic predictions of how the next flu pandemic might unfold. Like most emerging virus infections that threaten human health, flu outbreaks originate from animal reservoirs. Because of rapidly changing human behaviour and animal ecology, infections are spreading faster and farther. Patchy research on these outbreaks, and poor coordination between different disciplines in response to them, are limiting our ability to deal adequately with the threat they pose to human health. We propose establishing a permanent global task force to control a flu pandemic, in which relevant agencies would work together with leading research groups from different disciplines.