November 28, 2017
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has just released “WHO Guidance for Surveillance during an Influenza Pandemic: Update 2017“. The guidance assists member states to understand surveillance and data needs immediately before and during an influenza pandemic.
The guidance is an update to an earlier document “Global surveillance during an influenza pandemic”, published in April 2009.
Key updates include:
- reference to the global pandemic phases described in the “Pandemic Influenza Risk Management” (interpandemic, alert, pandemic and transition)
- outlines of roles and responsibilities of Member States and WHO
- information on risk and severity assessments to be conducted by Member States
- link of surveillance objectives with public health actions
- emphasis on the importance of detailed information of early cases
- resources of protocols for special studies
- references of up-to-date guidelines and best practices.