Leveraging GISRS for Improved Surveillance of COVID-19 & Influenza: Insights from WHO Global Consultations

WHO Global Consultations Seek to Enhance Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS)

In recent years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been proactive in its efforts to combat the spread and impact of respiratory viruses, notably influenza and SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. An essential part of this strategy has been the leveraging of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). In October 2020 and October 2021, the WHO conducted global consultations to explore ways of enhancing the capabilities of GISRS, including the integration of sentinel surveillance for both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza.

Strengthening Surveillance to Monitor COVID-19 Community Spread and Evolution

Now that COVID-19 is no longer considered a public health emergency of international concern, the WHO’s standing recommendations emphasise the importance of continuous reporting of epidemiological and laboratory data to its established platforms. These platforms serve a critical role in monitoring the community spread and evolution of COVID-19.

Adapting Integrated Surveillance Practices for Influenza and other Priority Respiratory Viruses

The main scope of the WHO global consultations was to adapt integrated surveillance practices for influenza and other priority respiratory viruses. The objective is to enhance the GISRS's capacity to better detect, monitor, and respond to future pandemic and epidemic threats from influenza and other respiratory viruses. The WHO aims to develop GISRS coordination for multi-source surveillance with non-sentinel event-based surveillance and response systems.

Preparing GISRS for Future Pandemic and Epidemic Threats

The overall goal of these consultations is to better prepare the GISRS to effectively respond to future pandemic and epidemic threats from influenza and other respiratory viruses. This is a vital step in ensuring the global community is better equipped to handle potential health threats and reduce the impact of such events.

WHO’s GISRS Global Consultations: An Overview

The WHO’s GISRS global consultations for the years 2020 and 2021 were significant events that brought together experts from around the world. The details about the dates, locations, and agenda of the consultations are available on the WHO’s website. Interested individuals can find information about registration and participation, providing an opportunity for all to contribute to this important initiative.

In conclusion, the WHO's initiatives to leverage the GISRS to integrate sentinel surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza demonstrate a proactive approach to tackling epidemic and pandemic threats. The global consultations have brought together experts worldwide to advance GISRS's capabilities and adapt integrated surveillance practices for influenza and other priority respiratory viruses. It's a crucial step towards enhancing global readiness for future health threats and ensuring a more coordinated and effective response when they arise.