Global Influenza Programme

We provide Member States with strategic guidance, technical support and coordination of activities essential to make their health systems better prepared against seasonal, zoonotic and pandemic influenza threats to populations and individuals.

About

Virological surveillance

Global influenza virological surveillance has been conducted through WHO's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) for over half a century.

Formerly known as the Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN), the new name came into effect upon the adoption of the World Health Assembly WHA64.5 Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits in May 2011.

Detection and reporting

WHO information for molecular diagnosis of influenza virus - update

Serological diagnosis of influenza by microneutralization assay

Manual for the laboratory diagnosis and virological surveillance of influenza

Guidance

Operational Guidance on Sharing Seasonal Influenza viruses

Operational Guidance on Sharing Influenza Viruses with Human Pandemic Potential (IVPP) under the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework

Practical guidance for national influenza centres establishing or implementing neuraminidase inhibitor susceptibility surveillance

Expert Working Group

The WHO working groups serve as an expert technical groups to provide guidance to WHO in the context of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS).

PCR Working Group on molecular detection of influenza viruses

Working Group on surveillance of influenza antiviral susceptibility