Event highlights

European health experts gather in Sarajevo to boost surveillance of respiratory viruses

Health experts from across the European Region came together in Sarajevo on 2–3 June to strengthen the Region’s response to influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for COVID-19) and other respiratory viruses.

Convened by WHO/Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the meeting brought together country focal points for influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses from across the Region; reference laboratory representatives; and other international experts.

At the heart of discussions were the new WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System guidelines for expanded surveillance. Discussions centred on how these guidelines can be incorporated into national surveillance systems, alongside new techniques to strengthen the surveillance, preparedness, prevention and control of acute respiratory infections, including influenza.

“The new guidance for expanded surveillance of influenza and other emerging respiratory pathogens offers a forward-looking framework for how countries can better monitor, detect and respond to these persistent and evolving threats,” said Dr Erwin Cooreman, WHO Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “They reflect both scientific advances and hard-won lessons from recent years, particularly the need for integrated, flexible and sustainable surveillance systems that can adapt quickly to changing realities. Incorporating this guidance into national systems is not just a technical upgrade, it is a strategic imperative.”

Since 2011, WHO/Europe and ECDC have jointly organized regular meetings addressing the epidemiological and virological aspects of influenza surveillance, seasonal influenza vaccination, and the global situation surrounding novel and avian influenza outbreaks, as well as other emerging respiratory pathogens.

“The ongoing upward trend in acute respiratory infections is posing serious health risks, and our joint work and coordination in addressing respiratory viruses is of crucial importance to the health of people across the Region,” emphasized Professor Jurica Arapović, Assistant Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We have a shared responsibility to ensure that our surveillance and response systems are prepared for future threats, whether from seasonal influenza, SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus or other emerging pathogens.”

Participants explored both technical and operational issues, as well as the application of new and improved biotechnological tools – such as updated vaccines, diagnostics, and artificial intelligence to strengthen surveillance, risk assessment and response mechanisms across the Region. The meeting emphasized the need for surveillance systems to continuously adapt to the evolving epidemiology and challenges associated with respiratory viruses.

“Any time of challenge also presents opportunities to come up with new solutions and implement them in order to explore the potential benefits the novel technologies and approaches are giving us,” said Dr Edoardo Colzani, Head of the Respiratory Viruses and Legionella Section at ECDC. “It is important to maintain an open discussion and evaluate how each country can operationally address these issues in a forward-looking way.”

WHO/Europe and ECDC remain committed to supporting countries in the European Region through coordinated surveillance activities, ensuring stronger prevention and control of acute respiratory infections such as influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus.

Event notice

WHO/Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) coordinate surveillance activities related to the prevention and control of acute respiratory infections including influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the European Region. Since 2011, the 2 institutions have jointly organized regular meetings focused on the epidemiological and virological aspects of influenza surveillance, seasonal influenza vaccination and the global situation regarding outbreaks of novel/avian influenza and other emerging respiratory pathogens.

Currently, respiratory viruses continue to present the European Region with multiple challenges: regular epidemics of influenza and RSV; ongoing waves and circulation of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and subvariants; assessing the value of alternative surveillance methods, such as wastewater surveillance; concern about the impact of other respiratory viruses such as human metapneumovirus; and the threat of avian influenza A (H5N1), in particular the epidemic among dairy cows in the USA, to evolve into the next pandemic. The surveillance landscape for respiratory diseases has changed substantially since the pandemic, and in late 2024, WHO developed new Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) guidelines for expanded surveillance. This guidance needs to be incorporated into surveillance practice by Member States.

Moreover, new or improved biotechnological tools such as vaccines, as well as Artificial Intelligence, are now available and being implemented.

This meeting, which will be the 10th joint WHO/Europe and ECDC meeting on respiratory virus surveillance, will bring together national focal points on influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory virus; focal points for epidemiological and virological surveillance designated by national health authorities; representatives of all 53 Member States of the WHO European Region; reference laboratory representatives; and other international experts.

The focus of the meeting is to discuss the challenges set out above, and ensure that the GISRS can be implemented to continue to conduct effective surveillance, and to incorporate the new WHO guidelines (see link). The meeting will also consider the usefulness of new techniques to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and prevention of these diseases at national and regional level.

The meeting aims to examine technical and operational issues to improve the capacity of Member States to conduct surveillance, assess risks and respond to these respiratory threats. It also aims to ensure that the epidemiological and virological surveillance systems in the European Region are adapting and are fully prepared to detect and respond to the challenges posed by recent changes in the epidemiology and control of respiratory viruses.