Guideline

WHO guideline on public health and social measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza

Year of Publication

2026

Issuing Institution

World Health Organization

Links

WHO IRIS

Recommendations

21 included recommendations

WHO recommends performing hand hygiene to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses in community settings during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Moderate

WHO suggests that: • individuals who are symptomatic and/or have tested positive for influenza wear masks at all times when in contact with other individuals to reduce the spread of influenza to others; and • all individuals in the community wear masks in crowded indoor settings to potentially reduce the spread of influenza in such settings during influenza epidemics and pandemics of high or extraordinary severity.

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Moderate

WHO recommends the practising of respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette by individuals not wearing a mask to prevent transmission of influenza viruses during influenza epidemics and pandemics

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Moderate

WHO recommends against indoor air purification to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses in community settings during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended against

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Moderate

WHO recommends against modifying indoor humidity to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended against

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO suggests surface and object cleaning and disinfection to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Low

WHO recommends increasing mechanical or natural ventilation in both households and nonresidential buildings to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

WHO suggests against contact tracing to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses during influenza epidemics and pandemics, except for the first cases of an outbreak of an emerging influenza virus strain in order to collect information on the characteristics of the disease and potentially help reduce transmission.

Status

New

Recommended against

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO recommends voluntary home isolation of symptomatic and/or infected individuals in every circumstance to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO suggests mandatory isolation of symptomatic and/or infected individuals at home or in a dedicated facility to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses in exceptional circumstances, such as epidemics and pandemics of high or extraordinary severity.

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO suggests against mass testing in community settings to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended against

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO suggests voluntary self-quarantine for individuals exposed to a confirmed case in their households or elsewhere to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses during influenza epidemics and pandemics of high severity.

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO suggests against risk-mitigation measures in indoor hospitality and recreational settings to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended against

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO suggests considering restrictions on gatherings to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses in the community during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

To reduce the transmission of influenza viruses in the community, WHO suggests that: • the implementation of one or more school measures be considered as sustainable alternatives to full school closure during influenza epidemics and pandemics; and • coordinated proactive school closure be considered during influenza epidemics and pandemics of high or extraordinary severity

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO suggests against stay-at-home provisions (including recommendations or orders) to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses in the community during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended against

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Low

To reduce the transmission of influenza viruses in community, WHO suggests that: • remote working from home be encouraged where feasible during influenza epidemics and pandemics; and • proactive workplace closures be considered during influenza epidemics and pandemics of high or extraordinary severity.

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO recommends against syndromic entry and exit screening at points of entry to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses in the community during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended against

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO recommends that travel advice be used to inform individuals of the risk of infection and of the measures that can be taken to protect themselves against potential exposure to influenza viruses during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO suggests against travel restrictions (including border closures) to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses in the community during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended against

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

WHO suggests against the use of upon-arrival quarantine of travellers to delay the introduction of influenza viruses into the community during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

Status

New

Recommended against

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low