This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Topic Collections  • Public Health, Other  • Viral Infections  • Health Policy  • Alert me on articles by topic

John P. Middaugh, MD

JAMA. 2008;299(5):566-568.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Weathering a future pandemic of influenza will be a challenge unlike anything experienced in the United States since 1918. A unique strength of the country has been the sharing of common goals and aspirations. Drawing on strong ethnic identities that celebrate diversity and respect for heritage, when faced with crises, individuals throughout the United States have protected each other because of this common bond.

Responding to a future influenza pandemic will test loyalties to families, friends, neighborhoods, and communities. As planning for the national response to pandemic influenza continues, it is essential to protect against adverse, unintended consequences that could seriously threaten the fabric of US society. There has been a major shift in public health advice regarding influenza,^1-7 and current national pandemic influenza planning advocates that individuals will be able to prevent influenza infection by modifying personal behaviors. Decreased person-to-person contact is recommended as an . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Social Distancing and Unintended Consequences

Author Affiliation: Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee.