CDC's communication efforts around non-pharmaceutical interventions to help slow the spread of 2009 pandemic influenza (H1N1)

In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took a multidisciplinary approach in response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic that included science, policy, technical assistance, and communication. Since non-pharmaceutical interventions can help slow the spread of influenza early in a pandemic before vaccines or antivirals become available, CDC developed guidance and recommendations around the use of these interventions to slow the spread of influenza in community settings. These settings included ports of entry, K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, businesses, and childcare programs. CDC also created tools to help administrators and partners communicate and implement the guidance in their respective settings. These tools encouraged the adoption of individual behaviors and community measures to help slow the spread of influenza and included question and answer documents, fact sheets, template letters, posters, prepared responses for the CDC-INFO Contact Center, and travelers' health alert notices. The coordinated development of multiple tools and channels for sharing information and evaluation of these materials helped build a foundation for future communication efforts around non-pharmaceutical interventions and pandemic response.