In 2007, Ireland among other countries world-wide, were committed to preparing National Influenza Pandemic strategy.
A pandemic influenza is a worldwide influenza epidemic. Risks associated with an influenza epidemic are serious, and therefore planning for such an epidemic is vital to minimize risks to the population.
Many organisations, including the World Health Organization, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in Ireland were involved in the planning phase so that they could take action as soon as there were any signs of the virus mutating and passing from human to human.
As part of the pandemic planning, our sentinel practices were very much involved.
Dept of Health (press release)