{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,9]],"date-time":"2026-04-09T22:05:06Z","timestamp":1775772306572,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":80,"publisher":"Cambridge University Press (CUP)","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2014,7,28]],"date-time":"2014-07-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1406505600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/terms"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sci Context"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2014,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Argument<\/jats:title><jats:p>Scientific uncertainty is fundamental to the management of contemporary global risks. In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the start of the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic. This declaration signified the risk posed by the spread of the H1N1 virus, and in turn precipitated a range of actions by global public health actors. This article analyzes the WHO's public representation of risk and examines the centrality of scientific uncertainty in the case of H1N1. It argues that the WHO's risk narrative reflected the context of scientific uncertainty in which it was working. The WHO argued that it was attempting to remain faithful to the scientific evidence, and the uncertain nature of the threat. However, as a result, the WHO's public risk narrative was neither consistent nor socially robust, leading to the eventual contestation of the WHO's position by other global public health actors, most notably the Council of Europe. This illustrates both the significance of scientific uncertainty in the investigation of risk, and the difficulty for risk managing institutions in effectively acting in the face of this uncertainty.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1017\/s0269889714000167","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2014,7,28]],"date-time":"2014-07-28T06:34:44Z","timestamp":1406529284000},"page":"511-529","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":14,"title":["An Uncertain Risk: The World Health Organization's Account of H1N1"],"prefix":"10.1017","volume":"27","author":[{"given":"Sudeepa","family":"Abeysinghe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"56","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2014,7,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref018","volume-title":"Questions and Debate","year":"2010"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref040","volume-title":"Modernity and Self-Identity: Self and Society in the Late Modern Age","author":"Giddens","year":"1991"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref070","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/978-94-015-8143-1_4"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref051","volume-title":"The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.","author":"Kuhn","year":"1970"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref077","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.c1904"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref071","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"395","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1010636822581","article-title":"Post-Normal Science and the Global Climate Change Issue","volume":"50","author":"Solantra","year":"2001","journal-title":"Climatic Change"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref017","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0263276406065121"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref033","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Fukuda","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref007","volume-title":"Post-Modernity and Its Discontents","author":"Bauman","year":"1999"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref076","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthplace.2010.03.004"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref050","volume-title":"Introductory Statement by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Keil","author":"Keil","year":"2010"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref025","volume-title":"Memorandum: The Handling of the H1N1 Pandemic: More Transparency Needed","author":"Flynn","year":"2010"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref044","volume-title":"The Taming of Chance","author":"Hacking","year":"1999"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref083","volume-title":"Hearing on \u201cThe Handling of the H1N1 Pandemic\u201d: More Transparency Needed?\u201d","author":"Wodarg","year":"2010"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref078","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1090350"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref035","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Fukuda","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref047","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203413845"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref045","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-349-01579-5"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref052","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.280.5361.208"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref074","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0162243910385789"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref054","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/030631201031006003"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref042","volume-title":"Influenza and Public Health: Learning from Past Pandemics","author":"Giles-Vernick","year":"2010"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref006","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0952695106062148"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref038","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/978-94-015-8143-1_6"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref046","volume-title":"Report of the Review Committee on the Functioning of the International Health Regulations (2005) in Relation to Pandemic (H1N1) 2009","year":"2011"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref021","volume-title":"Governmentally: Power and Rule in Modern Society","author":"Dean","year":"2010"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref069","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/016224399602100302"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref026","volume-title":"Speech \u2013 Paul Flynn, Rapporteur","author":"Flynn","year":"2010"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref037","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Fukuda","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref061","first-page":"46","volume-title":"States of Knowledge: The Co-Production of Science and Social Order","author":"Miller","year":"2004"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref056","volume-title":"Risk: A Sociological Theory.","author":"Luhmann","year":"2002"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref015","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Chan","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref014","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/heapol\/czl034"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref030","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Fukuda","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref058","first-page":"58","article-title":"A Predictable Unpredictability: The 2009 H1N1 Pandemic and the Concept of \u2018Strategic Uncertainty\u2019 within Global Public Health","volume":"3","author":"MacPhail","year":"2010","journal-title":"Behemoth. A Journal on Civilisation"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref063","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3152\/147154303781780461"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref079","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1086\/514168"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref064","volume-title":"Re-Thinking Science: Knowledge and the Public in an Age of Uncertainty","author":"Nowotny","year":"2001"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref066","first-page":"197","volume-title":"The Reality of Precaution. Comparing Risk Regulation in the United States and Europe","author":"Renn","year":"2011"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref013","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1548-1360.2012.01146.x"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref068","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Ryan","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref001","unstructured":"WHO Press Briefings cited hereafter are accessible at <http:\/\/www.who.int\/mediacentre\/multimedia\/swineflupressbriefings\/en\/index.html>; (last accessed March 13, 2014)."},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref023","volume-title":"Food Safety Governance. Integrating Science, Precaution and Public Involvement","author":"Dreyer","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref053","first-page":"242","article-title":"Avian Influenza and Influenza Pandemics","volume":"82","author":"Lazzari","year":"2004","journal-title":"Bulletin of the World Health Organisation"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2307\/j.ctt6wrdfm","volume-title":"Influenza: A Century of Science and Public Health Response","author":"Dehner","year":"2012"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref029","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Fukuda","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref049","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-8330.2007.00555.x"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref036","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Fukuda","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref009","volume-title":"World Risk Society.","author":"Beck","year":"1999"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref010","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Ben Embarek","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref011","volume-title":"Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists","author":"Best","year":"2001"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref028","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-11-181"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref016","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.324_1496"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref005","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1207.051497"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref008","volume-title":"Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity","author":"Beck","year":"1992"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref032","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Fukuda","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref039","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/etc.5620131203"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref027","volume-title":"The Handling of the H1N1 Pandemic: More Transparency Needed","author":"Flynn","year":"2010"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref034","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Fukuda","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref004","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/bsp.2005.3.51"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref048","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203413845"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref003","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/13698570310001606941"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref012","volume-title":"WHO Press Briefing","author":"Briand","year":"2009"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref020","unstructured":"Davis Mark . 2011. \u201cLiving \u2018Post-Pandemic\u2019 and Responding to Influenza.\u201d The Australian Sociological Association Conference, November 28 - December 1. Newcastle, TASA."},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref041","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1468-2230.00188"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref043","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1025576823096"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref065","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0016-3287(03)00160-5"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref082","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/heapol\/czq026"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref062","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthplace.2011.02.008"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref081","volume-title":"Strengthening Response to Pandemics and Other Public-Health Emergencies. Report of the Review Committee on the Functioning of the International Health Regulations (2005) and on Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009","year":"2011"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref075","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0963662510393605"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref072","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11673-009-9142-9"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref002","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0306312713492559"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref055","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1577","DOI":"10.1289\/ehp.6224","article-title":"Risk Management and Precaution: Insights in the Cautious use of Evidence","volume":"111","author":"Liess","year":"2003","journal-title":"Environmental Health Perspective"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref057","first-page":"365","article-title":"The World Health Organization's New International Health Regulations: Incursions on State Sovereignty and Ill-Fated Response to Global Health Issues","volume":"7","author":"Mack","year":"2007","journal-title":"Chicago Journal of International Law"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref059","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1475-682X.2008.00236.x"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref067","volume-title":"Speech \u2013 Michele Rivasi","author":"Rivasi","year":"2010"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref073","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/10410236.2011.571759"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref080","first-page":"143","volume-title":"Knowledge and Democracy: A 21st Century Perspective","author":"Weingart","year":"2011"},{"key":"S0269889714000167_ref060","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S1201-9712(00)90114-0"}],"container-title":["Science in Context"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/services\/aop-cambridge-core\/content\/view\/S0269889714000167","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2019,4,21]],"date-time":"2019-04-21T20:47:36Z","timestamp":1555879656000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/product\/identifier\/S0269889714000167\/type\/journal_article"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2014,7,28]]},"references-count":80,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2014,9]]}},"alternative-id":["S0269889714000167"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/s0269889714000167","relation":{},"ISSN":["0269-8897","1474-0664"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0269-8897","type":"print"},{"value":"1474-0664","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2014,7,28]]}}}