WHO Global Influenza Programme

Mission

• Contribute to reducing death and disease due to annual influenza epidemics and
• Prepare for the next influenza pandemic

WHO Vision on Influenza Surveillance and Control

• Effective and timely influenza surveillance in all regions of the world
• Antigenic and genetic match of influenza vaccine and current circulating influenza viruses
• Efficient national influenza control strategies and campaigns
• Sufficient influenza vaccines made available before and during pandemics and epidemics

Objectives

Increase and strengthen global epidemic and pandemic preparedness through:

• Improved quality and global coverage of influenza surveillance
• Improved understanding of health and economic burden of influenza including benefits from epidemic control and pandemic preparedness
• Increased national epidemic and pandemic preparedness including vaccine and pharmaceutical supplies
• Expanded use of existing vaccines particularly in developing countries and in high-risk groups and accelerated introduction of new vaccines
• More rapid communication and information exchange between WHO Influenza Network Members and key partners and stakeholders

Priority Activities

Global Influenza will focus on four major groups of activities (including research) on:

• Global influenza surveillance for accurate and timely recommendations on influenza vaccine composition
• Enhancement of global and national pandemic preparedness including initial outbreak investigation and coordination of rapid response
• Preparation and publication of technical and standard setting documents on Influenza surveillance and control
• Providing international leadership in the coordination of implementation and advocacy of the Global Agenda on Influenza Surveillance, Prevention and Control

Partners