Pandemic preparedness in times of COVID-19: is a 70-year-old laboratory network still effective?
“Learning to live with COVID cannot mean that we give this virus a free ride”. Through these words, WHO’s Director-General has repeatedly called for a transition from the current state of emergency to the establishment of sustainable prevention and control programs for the years to come. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, influenza surveillance networks have been crucial in preparing and responding to the pandemic and will continue to play a key role in monitoring the evolution of SARS-CoV-2.
What is the Global Influenza Surveillance Response System (GISRS)?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VatrQSXWt48
GISRS is a network of laboratories established in 1952 to protect world populations from the threat of influenza. It is fostering global trust and confidence through effective collaboration and sharing of viruses, data, and benefits worldwide. GISRS has 3 main functions:
- Monitor circulating influenza viruses to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and response for seasonal, pandemic, and zoonotic influenza;
- Act as a global alert system for the emergence of novel influenza viruses and other respiratory pathogens; and
- Monitor influenza epidemiology and disease
Among the four types of influenza viruses (A, B, C, and D) human influenza viruses A and B are the ones causing seasonal flu twice a year in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. GISRS is acting as a global mechanism for the surveillance of the different strains of these viruses to determine which ones are circulating and thus ensuring a better composition and effectiveness of influenza vaccines. This is made possible through the expanding GISRS network which currently comprises 158 laboratories and centers in 127 countries, areas, and territories.
From influenza preparedness to COVID-19 readiness
The GISRS network has been in action since day one in the COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and response. The sharing of SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequence data has been critical in the risk assessment of this new disease and the development of diagnostic tools. Since January 2020, over 13 million of SARS-CoV-2 whole genomes sequences have been shared worldwide through the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID). In addition, thanks to the External Quality Assessment Program (EQAP) of GISRS, 233 laboratories located in 164 countries have been evaluated for their testing abilities of the novel coronavirus with successful capacity for 94% of them.
GISRS has served as the backbone of influenza preparedness for decades. As we celebrate the 70 years of this network of laboratories this year, WHO and other partners will continue to leverage its capacities to include the surveillance and monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in order to enhance our preparedness and response to COVID-19 in the longer term.
What preparedness for the next pandemic?
With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how rather than building from scratch it is easier to scale up existing mechanisms to prepare and respond to emerging infectious hazards. In case of health emergencies, what is at stake is the need to swiftly collect information at the earliest stage of the outbreak and, if the situation is protracted, to rely on systems and capacities that will maintain public health functions over time.
If we want to be prepared for future disease outbreaks, it is vital to have key scalable structures in place that can be adapted in the event of the emergence of a pathogen with epidemic or pandemic potential. Drawing lessons from COVID-19, WHO is working with Member States and partners to expand GISRS and integrate other respiratory diseases.
ð For more information on GISRS: link
ð Celebrating 70 years of GISRS: link