Terms of Reference for the Technical Advisory Group for the preparedness, prevention, surveillance, and response related to respiratory viruses

Overview

The health, economic, and social burden associated with the circulation of influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, MERS-CoV and other known respiratory viruses of epidemic and pandemic potential requires countries to sustain and strengthen efficient and appropriate approaches to the implementation of respiratory virus surveillance, preparedness, prevention, and response activities in the context of other infectious threats.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the influenza pandemics of 2009, 1968, 1957, and 1918, and the continuous threat presented by MERS-CoV, animal influenza viruses, and the emergence of novel pathogens require a comprehensive approach to continue to strengthen systems for respiratory virus pandemic preparedness, readiness, response and control. As such, WHO is establishing the TAG-RV, a group to place a concerted focus on comprehensive and sustained prevention, preparedness, readiness and response for respiratory viruses — more broadly covering these combined threats — of epidemic and pandemic potential.