Leveraging International Influenza Surveillance Systems and Programs during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

A network of global respiratory disease surveillance systems and partnerships has been built over decades as a direct response to the persistent threat of seasonal, zoonotic, and pandemic influenza. These efforts have been spearheaded by the World Health Organization, country ministries of health, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nongovernmental organizations, academic groups, and others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worked closely with ministries of health in partner countries and the World Health Organization to leverage influenza surveillance systems and programs to respond to SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Countries used existing surveillance systems for severe acute respiratory infection and influenza-like illness, respiratory virus laboratory resources, pandemic influenza preparedness plans, and ongoing population-based influenza studies to track, study, and respond to SARS-CoV-2 infections. The incorporation of COVID-19 surveillance into existing influenza sentinel surveillance systems can support continued global surveillance for respiratory viruses with pandemic potential.

Strengthening influenza surveillance capacity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Nearly two decades of direct support from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

“…The substantial improvements in surveillance capacities supported by CDC ID in collaboration with WHO EMRO demonstrate commitment by national governments in EMR to prioritize programs for influenza surveillance, response, and preparedness and contribute data and specimens for consideration in global influenza vaccine composition recommendations. These capacities have served as the basis for the diagnosis and investigation of other infectious diseases, like Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV), Ebola, and SARS‐CoV‐2 4,15 …”

Global Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…CDC has provided longstanding support to strengthen surveillance, health information, and laboratory systems globally. Examples of such platforms used during the COVID-19 pandemic include the early warning and response surveillance system ( 1 ); respiratory ( 2 ), influenza ( 3 ), and acute febrile illness surveillance systems ( 4 ); global health security–supported information systems (e.g., District Health Information Software, version 2 [DHIS2]) ( 5 ); and PEPFAR-supported HIV and tuberculosis (TB) information systems ( 6 , 7 ). Respiratory disease surveillance guidance was developed for COVID-19 in 9 temporary camps for displaced persons along the Thailand–Myanmar border, showing that such systems can be effective during pandemics ( 2 ).…”

“…Respiratory disease surveillance guidance was developed for COVID-19 in 9 temporary camps for displaced persons along the Thailand–Myanmar border, showing that such systems can be effective during pandemics ( 2 ). Countries’ ministries of health (MOH), the World Health Organization (WHO), CDC, academic institutions, and nongovernmental organizations adapted international influenza surveillance systems for SARS-CoV-2 infections ( 3 ). CDC collaborated with MOH and partners to leverage existing acute febrile illness surveillance systems in 5 countries to collect and generate COVID-19 data needed for action ( 4 ).…”

Integration of SARS-CoV-2 testing and genomic sequencing into influenza sentinel surveillance in Uganda, January to December 2022

“…Later in the pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) produced interim guidance for countries to maintain or restart influenza surveillance as well as to monitor SARS-CoV-2 ( 10 ). As such, the implementation of genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from samples collected from representative sentinel sites was expedited to monitor the trends and prevalence of existing and emerging (co-)circulating genetic variants.…”