Technical consultation on public health and social measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza to update the 2019 WHO guidance

In the early stages of an influenza pandemic, public health and social measures (PHSM) represent the only readily available non-medical countermeasures for preventing or controlling the spread of a pandemic virus. Since the publication of the WHO guidance “Non-pharmaceutical public health measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza” in 2019, several PHSM have been widely used to reduce and slow transmission of SARS-CoV-2 with also an impact on the circulation of seasonal influenza viruses.

In light of the resulting huge increase in experience and evidence regarding the use of PHSM and given the ever-present threat of the next influenza pandemic, a WHO technical consultation was held in June 2023 to gather relevant experts and stakeholders to review the most up-to-date scientific evidence identified through systematic reviews and discuss factors like feasibility, costs, and ethical considerations relevant to the update of the 2019 WHO guidance. This meeting report summarizes the main outcomes of discussions that took place during the consultation.