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Scientific Pandemic Influenza Advisory Committee (SPI)

Previously: Scientific Advisory Group (SAG)

Experts around the world share the view that a global pandemic of influenza could emerge and cause millions of deaths. It is not possible to predict when this will occur. In the UK alone, a pandemic could affect up to 50 per cent of the population and cause between 50,000 and 750,000 deaths. It is therefore imperative that the UK has robust preparations for an influenza pandemic in place. We are fortunate in having some of the best scientific and medical experts in the world leading our work on pandemic preparations, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the UK as one of the best prepared countries in the world.

In 2005, as part of the UK's pandemic influenza preparation, the Department of Health established a Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) on Pandemic Influenza, to advise on the scientific evidence base for health-related pandemic influenza policies. The Government now intends to enhance these arrangements by extending the membership to include a wider range of scientific disciplines and by recruiting an independent chair. Professor Sir Gordon Duff has been appointed as the first chair, with effect from January 2008. More details can be found in the press release issued on 7 January 2008.

To emphasise the wider scientific remit and the wider client group (cross-government) of this committee versus its predecessor, Sir Gordon Duff has agreed that a new name would be appropriate. From now on this group will be known as the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Advisory Group, or SPI for short.

The scientific disciplines represented in the new advisory arrangements will be extended to a wider range of scientific diciplines including traditional infectious diseases-related sciences such as virology and immunology, and also sciences such as risk management, behavioural sciences and diagnostics. This reflects the far-reaching implications of an influenza pandemic as well as the cross-government nature of this advisory group.

Besides providing advice on specific questions, the Group will act as an information network for the government to ensure that it is informed of important developments in pandemic influenza related sciences, which could affect government policy.