Review article

Epidemiological Surveillance of Influenza

Vladimira Lesnikar ; Zavod za javno zdravstvo “Dr. Andrija Štampar”

Abstract

Due to its specific epidemiological characteristics, especially the constant changes of the virus each year requiring the re-adjustment of the vaccine, but also because of the fear of the virus outbreak which has the power to start a new pandemic with a large number of patients and an increased number of deaths, influenza has a special place in the infectious diseases surveillance system. The World Health Organization created the Global Influenza Surveillance Network consisting of National Influenza Centres, World Health Organization Collaborative Centres and its referral laboratories. They all work together to collect the information about influenza activity, analyse genetic and antigenic characteristics of collected virus isolates, provide virus strains used for the preparation and production of vaccines, and report on the emergence of new types or subtypes of viruses with a pandemic potential. The effectiveness of this system depends on a timely exchange of high-quality epidemiological and virological information among all participants and on the scope of the global surveillance network.

Keywords

global surveillance system; national influenza centres; epidemiological surveillance

Hrčak ID:

77361

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/77361

Publication date:

3.1.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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