Virus sharing

Influenza virus sharing is vital to global pandemic preparedness. The sharing of viruses facilitates pandemic risk assessment, the development of candidate vaccine viruses, updating of diagnostic reagents and test kits, and surveillance for resistance to antiviral medicines.

GISRS Virus Sharing

Influenza virus sharing is coordinated by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), an international network of influenza laboratories that conduct year-round surveillance of influenza, assessing the risk of pandemic influenza and assisting in preparedness measures. GISRS serves as a global alert mechanism for the emergence of influenza viruses with pandemic potential.

Seasonal influenza outbreaks are caused by small changes in viruses that have already circulated, and to which many people have some immunity. A pandemic occurs when an influenza virus emerges that most people do not have immunity from because it is so different from any previous strain in humans. This enables the strain to spread easily between people. Seasonal influenza viruses may contribute to the emergence of a pandemic virus; and once a pandemic virus has been established, as with the pandemic A(H1N1) in 2009, it can become a seasonal virus.

Under the PIP Framework, the sharing of PIP biological materials within the GISRS network of laboratories is governed by Standard Material Transfer Agreement 1 (SMTA1) which establishes the rights and obligations of GISRS laboratories with respect to many matters including:

• transferring PIP biological materials within and to entities outside GISRS
• handling of PIP biological materials
  
• use of the Influenza Virus Traceability Mechanism
• research & publications
• intellectual property rights
• dispute resolution

Influenza Virus Traceability Mechanism

The Influenza Virus Traceability Mechanism (IVTM) is a publicly accessible, electronic, internet-based system that records the transfer and movement of PIP biological materials into, within and to parties outside the WHO GISRS. The purpose of the system is to allow users to see where PIP biological materials have been sent.

The IVTM increases the transparency of GISRS activities by allowing users to track the transfers of PIP biological materials. It enables users to see the results of analyses and tests carried out with them.

Reference documents

Operational Guidance on Sharing Influenza Viruses with Human Pandemic Potential (IVPP) under the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework

Operational Guidance on Sharing Seasonal Influenza viruses with WHO Collaborating Centres (CCs) under the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS)

GISRS self-assessment (October 2014)

SMTA1 (model agreement)

PIP biological material shipment notice (revised October 2019)

Representation of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) at Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework Meetings