WHO Public Health Research Agenda for Influenza - version 1, 2009

Overview

Influenza, in its pandemic, zoonotic and seasonal epidemic forms, is a formidable public health threat throughout the world. Seasonal influenza is a highly communicable infection of the respiratory tract. Extrapolations from well established studies in temperate countries suggest that annual seasonal influenza epidemics can result in an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 deaths worldwide each year. Since its initial detection in April 2009, the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus has spread quickly throughout the world and caused at least 15,000 deaths in less than a year mainly in young and middle-aged adults. Zoonotic infection by avian influenza remains a threat to human and animal species in many regions of the world. The potential of such animal viruses to evolve into human pandemic viruses requires continuous monitoring. However, in many countries the magnitude of influenza’s burden (both in human and animals) is unknown. Influenza is not considered a high priority disease in such countries where other more prominent and competing problems are threatening people’s health.

The goal of the WHO Public Health Research Agenda for Influenza is to identify the evidence needed to better understand the disease impact, strengthen public health guidance and actions essential for limiting the impact of pandemic, zoonotic and seasonal influenza on individuals and populations. The research agenda aims to facilitate discussion, coordination and interaction among researchers, donors/funding agencies and public health professionals worldwide.