The 2009 Influenza Pandemic: Selected Legal Issues

On June 11, in response to the global spread of a new strain of influenza, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the level of influenza pandemic alert to phase 6, which indicates thestart of an actual pandemic. This change reflected the spread of the new influenza A(H1N1) virus,not its severity. Although currently the pandemic is of moderate severity with the majority ofpatients experiencing mild symptoms and making a rapid and full recovery, this experience couldchange. This report provides a brief overview of selected legal issues including emergency measures, civil rights, liability issues, and employment issues.