Background
Two WHO global consultations in October 2020 and October 2021 built on experiences gained during the COVID-19 pandemic to leverage the capacities of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) to integrate sentinel surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza to monitor the community spread and evolution of COVID-19. With COVID-19 being no longer a public health emergency of international concern, the standing recommendations for COVID-19 issued by WHO in accordance with IHR, recommends State Parties to continue reporting COVID-19 epidemiological and laboratory data in a timely manner to established WHO regional or global platforms, through RespiMART and the expanded activities of GISRS.
Scope and objectives
The scope of this meeting is to adapt integrated surveillance practices for influenza and other priority respiratory viruses, develop GISRS coordination for a multi-source surveillance with non-sentinel event-based surveillance and response systems.
The overall objective is to develop and define the scope for advancing GISRS that is better prepared to detect, monitor, and respond to future pandemic and epidemic threats from influenza and other respiratory viruses.
The specific objectives of this consultation are to
- Review the integrated surveillance practices of GISRS for influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and other respiratory viruses with epidemic and pandemic potential.
- Strengthen mechanisms for GISRS to coordinate with non-sentinel surveillance and response systems for early detection, monitoring activity and informed use of public health measures in a future pandemic or epidemic.
Expected outcomes
- Updated integrated surveillance practices for influenza and other priority respiratory viruses.
- A strategic report (white paper) that defines the scope, purpose, objectives, outputs and a roadmap for advancing GISRS.
Agenda outline
- Status of integration of influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV on the GISRS platform – lessons learned, achievements, opportunities.
- Review the GISRS integrated surveillance practices for influenza and other respiratory viruses.
- Develop coordination mechanisms for GISRS and other non-sentinel event-based surveillance and response systems.
- Define the scope, purpose and objectives and roadmap for advancing GISRS.
Participants
- Directors/designees of National Influenza Centres or National Influenza Laboratories and epidemiology national focal points for influenza.
- WHO Collaborating Centers on influenza and other laboratories of the GISRS network.
- International experts in laboratory diagnostics and surveillance of influenza, RSV, SARS-CoV-2, and other respiratory viruses.
- Global and regional partners and other interested entities.