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Summary

On April 29, 2009, in response to the global spread of a new strain of influenza, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its influenza (flu) pandemic alert level to Phase 5, one level below declaring that a global influenza pandemic was underway. According to WHO, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short. Officials now believe the outbreak began in Mexico in March 2009, or perhaps earlier. The novel flu virus was first identified in California in late April 2009. Health officials quickly linked the new flu strain to many of the illnesses in Mexico. Since then, growing numbers of cases have been reported around the world. As of May 20, 2009, more than 10,000 cases had been reported in 41 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Most of the reported cases are in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Health officials note that reported cases likely represent only a fraction of actual infections. For example, a U.S. official commented that there may actually have been upwards of 100,000 cases thus far in the United States. Investigations to date suggest that human infections with the new flu strain are usually mild, although severe illnesses and deaths have been reported. This pattern is similar to the behavior of seasonal flu, which circulates the globe each year. It is also consistent with the likelihood of substantial underreporting, as noted above. Health officials continue to monitor the situation, noting that the efficiency of viral transmission and the severity of illness could change. The new flu strain was initially dubbed swine flu because it contains genetic material from flu strains that normally circulate in swine. However, there has been no evidence to date that pigs are involved in the initial transmission of this virus to humans. There have been concerns that the term swine flu had unwarranted trade implications for swine and pork products. In the United States, Canada, and other countries, officials are monitoring swine herds closely after the finding in Canada of a swine herd that was infected with the virus by a Canadian worker who had recently returned from Mexico and had been exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Federal agencies have adopted a pandemic response posture under the overall coordination of the Secretary of Homeland Security. Among other things, officials have released antiviral drugs from the national stockpile, and efforts to develop a vaccine are underway. The Obama Administration has requested $1.5 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to address the threat, and additional amounts for FY2010. House and Senate appropriators have included pandemic flu funding in pending FY2009 supplemental appropriations. Congressional committees in both chambers have convened hearings to assess the situation. This report first provides a synopsis of key events, actions taken, and authorities invoked by WHO, the U.S. federal government, and state and local governments. It then discusses the WHO process to determine the phase of a threatened or emerging flu pandemic, and selected actions taken by the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, and by state and local authorities. Next, it lists congressional hearings held to date and provides information about appropriations and funding for pandemic flu activities. Finally, it summarizes U.S. government pandemic flu planning documents and lists sources for additional information about the situation as it unfolds. This report will be continually updated to reflect unfolding events.

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