Pandemics can pose significant risk to health and economy in our region.
A pandemic happens when a virus spreads quickly and affects a country or many countries around the world. When this happens, many of us can become very sick. The Ministry of Health is the lead agency for planning for and responding to pandemics in New Zealand.
In the past 100 years there have been significant pandemics that have affected New Zealand, the most notable being the Influenza in 1918 and the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
Both events demonstrated the impact a major communicable disease can have on the Manawatū-Whanganui Region, with many unforeseen impacts experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.