Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 12/2010

Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 (pH1N1) in Hong Kong: Anatomy of a Response

Richard Fielding

December 2010

Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies

Abstract

Pandemic influenza A/H1N1 (pH1N1) spread rapidly from its origins in Mexico to affect Hong Kong as its first point of entry into Asia. In this paper, the different stages of government response from prevention to mitigation to vaccination and stand down are described and discussed from the perspectives of feasibility, pragmatism, effectiveness and population responses to offer insights into future influenza pandemic preparedness.