Novel Influenza A H1N1 Epidemic of Spring 2009: Report of an After Action Workshop

Because mass population public health emergencies are uncommon, it is important to review the parameters involved in the responses they elicit. The introduction of a novel influenza virus into the human population during the spring of 2009 resulted in a series of unprecedented local, state and federal responses. A wide variety of actions were taken to simultaneously define the communicability of the virus, conduct surveillance related to disease impact, and produce containment guidance for health departments, schools, businesses, and the general public even as the spread of this influenza continued to evolve. A two-day workshop was convened on September 21-22, 2009 by the UCLA Center for Public Health and Disasters to explore the actions and decisions taken during the early months of the pandemic. Ninety one leaders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local health departments, and other agencies engaged in plenary panel presentations as well as facilitated discussions across four working groups: epidemiology; public health risk communication; local public health actions; and providing health care. Findings of the working groups were discussed in plenary sessions that included all workshop participants. Ten recommendations were derived from the two days of discussions, three of which were acted upon within 60 days of the conclusion of the workshop