Bibliographic information
GuidelineWHO guideline on public health and social measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza
Year of Publication2026
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
New
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.
Recommended in favor
Conditional
Certainty of evidence
Very low
Notes and Remarks
- Although workplaces can be the foci of influenza outbreaks among the working-age population, the associated levels of morbidity and mortality are relatively low in this population as they tend to experience less severe symptoms compared with school-age children and older adults. However, such outbreaks increase the risks of secondary transmission to family members under their care, many of whom will be school age or elderly When remote working is not feasible, other workplace measures (such as staggering shifts and/or mask wearing) or reactive closures can be considered, with gradation of interventions based on pandemic severity.
- In certain circumstances, workplace measures and closures may exacerbate socioeconomic inequities since loss of income can lead to impoverishment and limited ability to pay for necessities. Consideration should be given to mitigating these and other adverse effects on individuals, communities, the workforce and the economy through the implementation of social policies.
- When considering measures and closures, workplaces might usefully be sub-grouped – for example, into those that may not need to remain open for society to function and those that may have to remain open (such as health care facilities and food shops).