IN THE SPOTLIGHT
SEAR countries share experiences for introducing health worker vaccinations against seasonal influenza
As part of WHO SEA Region’s contribution to future introduction of health worker vaccinations (HWV) against seasonal Influenza, key informant interviews were planned with focal points from the Country Offices of Maldives, Timor Leste and Maldives . These included experience sharing and best practices of HWV programmes in the Region as part of the Gavi Influenza Learning Agenda.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE:
SUPPORT OF THE HEALTH OPERATIONS PILLAR
Technical support for COVID-19 specific sero-epidemiological study/ sero-survey in Myanmar
WHO UNITY protocols provide a standardized international investigation framework for conducting COVID-19 specific seroprevalence studies in Member States. WHO’s three level assistance between Unity desk of WHO HQ, SEARO and WHO country office of Myanmar are developing a sound study methodology for conducting a COVID-19 seroprevalence survey. Read more
INFECTIOUS HAZARD MANAGEMENT (IHM)
Seasonal, pandemic and zoonotic influenza activities
Countries in the Region resume Influenza virus sharing as part of global pandemic preparedness
To re-prioritize virus sharing in the region, participants at two regional influenza meetings shared experiences of influenza surveillance during the pandemic. They highlighted utilization and usefulness of latest WHO guidance for adapting influenza surveillance systems to monitor SARS-CoV-2. Recommendations were made to refine their pandemic preparedness plans.
High threat pathogens
Technical support to implement “Ending cholera - the global roadmap to 2030 “ in WHO SEA region
IHM is facilitating the roll-out of the Country Support Platform in Bangladesh coordinated by the WHO led Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) and also supporting the outbreak control in Nepal through the facilitation of the International Coordinating Group’s (ICG) support for oral cholera vaccines (OCV).
Regional training of “Trainers of Trainers (ToT)” on biosafety and risk assessment of infectious hazards
A Risk Assessment ToT workshop was organized for Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives on pilot basis. They deputed participants who were trained over 13 sessions from Oct-Dec 2021. The Regional Office will finalize training/ video materials for future trainings following the hybrid model.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
- WHO’s BioHub consultation meeting, 09 December 2021
- WHO Consultation on the influenza vaccine composition for Northern Hemisphere 2022-2023 February 2022, followed by an Information Meeting on the 25 February 2022
RESOURCES
- November 19 Assessment of risk associated with influenza A(H5N6) virus
- Influenza updates 25 October
- Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 surveillance data reported to FluNet through GISRS system
CONTACT US
Dr. Pushpa Ranjan Wijesinghe, Programme Area Manager
Infectious Hazard Management, WHO Regional Office for SEA