[The possibility and preparedness for pandemic of new influenza]

Influenza is endemic in the world. Influenza A/H1N1(USSR), A/H3N2(Hong Kong), and B are the major strain for human influenza. Both influenza A/H1N1 and H3N2 has been overrun for 20-20 years, and it has been warned new influenza A virus should appeared in near future. As foretaste, avian influenza A/H5N1 was transmitted to human in Hong Kong in 1997 and 2003, and avian influenza A/H7N7 was transmitted to human in Netherlands in 2003. WHO requests member states to prepare influenza pandemic and to strengthen and encourage influenza surveillance. In Japan, Ministry of Health and Welfare organized Expert Committee for Preparedness for Influenza Pandemic in 1997 and New Committee will be organized in 2003. New influenza surveillance system has been started since 1999. The data on influenza surveillance in Japan are shown on website of IDSC/NIID(http://idsc.nih.go.jp/index-j.html).