GISRS - Workshop for New Directors of National Influenza Centres

For over 70 years, National Influenza Centres (NICs) recognized by the World Health Organization have been the cornerstone of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). These institutions serve as key points of contact between WHO and its Member States for sustaining the global virological and epidemiological surveillance required to prepare for and respond effectively to epidemics and pandemics. Currently, 130 Member States have WHO-recognized NICs. NICs have a range of varying capacities, from basic surveillance functions to highly advanced capabilities to perform the full scale of analyses from detection to genetic characterization for surveillance and diagnostic purposes, as well as research functions. Maintaining and expanding these core capacities is one of the primary objectives of the WHO Global Influenza Programme (GIP) through the collaborative surveillance of GISRS. Considering the specific capacities and needs of different NICs, the GIP has developed this workshop in close collaboration with the WHO Collaborating Centres on influenza and partners (newly appointed directors of WHO-recognized NICs).