Influenza viruses are significant human respiratory pathogens that cause both seasonal, and periodic, unpredictable pandemics. Animal and Human infections by H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in various Asian countries including Pakistan (December, 2007) have heightened concerns about the emergence of future pandemics. There is an ever increasing need for establishment and implementation of a country wide reporting and monitoring system for early detection of such outbreaks/cases and strengthen the local and regional response capacities . During the first cooperative agreement period 2004-2009, despite a delayed start and various socio-political hurdles in implementation thereof, significant/appreciable progress has been made towards establishment of a sentinel surveillance network for influenza at the provincial level that can serve as a bench mark for further endeavors. As the apex public health laboratory and WHO accredited National influenza Center in Pakistan; with sustained support for Influenza surveillance, National Institute of Health can continue to successfully foster lab based surveillance network for influenza and indirectly for other infectious disease of public health concern.The funds are being requested to help strengthen the national influenza surveillance network enabling it to effectively detect, respond, prevent, and control seasonal, novel influenza viruses and non-Influenza (Viral, Bacterial) pathogens. Pakistan has implemented a successful model sentinel influenza surveillance established since 2007 under various cooperative agreements with CDC. This grant will enable support robust and timely surveillance for seasonal influenza and ensure sustainable systems in place for rapid detection and response to possible pandemic influenza in line with WHO?s Global Influenza Strategy 2021-2030. The goal is to utilize the funds for all the three components including influenza non-influenza and pandemic preparedness for
avian and pandemic potential pathogens;a) To strengthen surveillance, detection and response capacities for seasonal and pandemic influenzab) Implement enhanced surveillance activities for Non-Influenza Viral and Bacterial Respiratory and Vaccine-preventable Pathogenc) Support and Strengthen pandemic preparedness and rapid Response capacity to Infectious Disease Outbreaks or other Public Health Emergencies
