Skip to main content

Global Strategy for Influenza Viral Infection: What Is the Latest Information from WHO?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Influenza

Abstract

Influenza is a viral respiratory disease of great importance. Both seasonal and pandemic influenza pose serious burdens and threats to global public health. The current WHO strategy for influenza is based on the International Health Regulations revised in 2005 (IHR 2005), ensuring a core national public health capacity building alongside a systemic international response mechanism. Lessons and challenges from past threats such as highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks led to strengthening and reforms of the WHO strategy, including the expansion of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, multi-sectoral collaboration with the One Health approach, adoption of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, and the introduction of Emergency Risk Management for Health. In 2019, the WHO issued the Global Influenza Strategy to provide a framework aimed at strengthening the prevention and control of seasonal influenza and preparedness for future pandemics. Humankind managed to cope with the past global public health threats with WHO as the leader. However, the WHO faces mounting obstacles to fulfilling its purpose.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Johnson NP, Mueller J. Updating the accounts: global mortality of the 1918-1920 “Spanish” influenza pandemic. Bull Hist Med. 2002;76(1):105–15. https://doi.org/10.1353/bhm.2002.0022.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Spreeuwenberg P, Kroneman M, Paget J. Reassessing the global mortality burden of the 1918 influenza pandemic. Am J Epidemiol. 2018;187(12):2561–7. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwy191.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Krammer F, Smith GJD, Fouchier RAM, Peiris M, Kedzierska K, Doherty PC, et al. Influenza. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018;4(1):3. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-018-0002-y.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. World Health Organization. Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005); 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Fan VY, Jamison DT, Summers LH. Pandemic risk: how large are the expected losses? Bull World Health Organ. 2018;96(2):129–34. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.17.199588.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. World Health Organization. Cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) reported to WHO, 2003-2020. 10 July 2020. https://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/2020_10_07_tableH5N1.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  7. Widdowson MA, Bresee JS, Jernigan DB. The global threat of animal influenza viruses of zoonotic concern: then and now. J Infect Dis. 2017;216(Suppl. 4):S493–8. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jix331.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Imai M, Watanabe T, Hatta M, Das SC, Ozawa M, Shinya K, et al. Experimental adaptation of an influenza H5 HA confers respiratory droplet transmission to a reassortant H5 HA/H1N1 virus in ferrets. Nature. 2012;486(7403):420–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10831.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Herfst S, Schrauwen EJ, Linster M, Chutinimitkul S, de Wit E, Munster VJ, et al. Airborne transmission of influenza A/H5N1 virus between ferrets. Science. 2012;336(6088):1534–41. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1213362.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. World Health Organization. Global influenza strategy 2019–2030. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/311184/9789241515320-eng.pdf?sequence=18&isAllowed=y. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  11. Iuliano AD, Roguski KM, Chang HH, Muscatello DJ, Palekar R, Tempia S, et al. Estimates of global seasonal influenza-associated respiratory mortality: a modelling study. Lancet (London, England). 2018;391(10127):1285–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33293-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Troeger CE, Blacker BF, Khalil IA, Zimsen SRM, Albertson SB, Abate D, et al. Mortality, morbidity, and hospitalisations due to influenza lower respiratory tract infections, 2017: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet Respir Med. 2019;7(1):69–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(18)30496-X.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Wang X, Li Y, O’Brien KL, Madhi SA, Widdowson M-A, Byass P, et al. Global burden of respiratory infections associated with seasonal influenza in children under 5 years in 2018: a systematic review and modelling study. Lancet Glob Health. 2020;8(4):e497–510. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(19)30545-5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Peasah SK, Azziz-Baumgartner E, Breese J, Meltzer MI, Widdowson MA. Influenza cost and cost-effectiveness studies globally--a review. Vaccine. 2013;31(46):5339–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.09.013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. de Francisco Shapovalova N, Donadel M, Jit M, Hutubessy R. A systematic review of the social and economic burden of influenza in low- and middle-income countries. Vaccine. 2015;33(48):6537–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.10.066.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. World Health Organization. National Influenza Centres. 28 July 2020. https://www.who.int/influenza/gisrs_laboratory/national_influenza_centres/National_Influenza_Centres_20200728_web.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  17. World Health Organization. WHO preferred product characteristics for next-generation influenza vaccines; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Yamayoshi S, Kawaoka Y. Current and future influenza vaccines. Nat Med. 2019;25(2):212–20. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-018-0340-z.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. World Health Organization. WHO guidelines for pharmacological management of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 and other Influenza Viruses Part1. 2010. https://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/swineflu/h1n1_guidelines_pharmaceutical_mngt.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  20. FAO-OIE-WHO. The FAO-OIE-WHO Collaboration: a Tripartite Concept Note Sharing responsibilities and coordinating global activities to address health risks at the animal-human-ecosystems interfaces. 2010. https://www.who.int/influenza/resources/documents/tripartite_concept_note_hanoi_042011_en.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  21. World Health Organization. Pandemic influenza preparedness framework for the sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits. 2011. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/44796/9789241503082_eng.pdf?sequence=1. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  22. World Health Organization. Pandemic influenza risk management WHO Interim Guidance. 2013. https://www.who.int/influenza/preparedness/pandemic/GIP_PandemicInfluenzaRiskManagementInterimGuidance_Jun2013.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  23. World Health Organization. International Health Regulations (1969). 1983. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/96616/9241580070.pdf?sequence=1. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  24. Morse SS, Mazet JAK, Woolhouse M, Parrish CR, Carroll D, Karesh WB, et al. Prediction and prevention of the next pandemic zoonosis. Lancet. 2012;380(9857):1956–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(12)61684-5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. World Health Organization. International Health Regulations 2005. 3rd ed; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Fineberg HV. Pandemic preparedness and response—lessons from the H1N1 influenza of 2009. N Engl J Med. 2014;370(14):1335–42. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1208802.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Fidler DP. Negotiating equitable access to influenza vaccines: global health diplomacy and the controversies surrounding avian influenza H5N1 and pandemic influenza H1N1. PLoS Med. 2010;7(5):e1000247. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000247.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. World Health Organization. Report of the WHO pandemic influenza A(H1N1) vaccine deployment initiative; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  29. World Health Organization. Urgent support for developing countries’ responses to the H1N1 influenza pandemic. 2009. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/47A26C749293325185257663005F6EE9-Full_Report.pdf. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  30. World Health Organization. Main operational lessons learnt from the WHO Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) Vaccine Deployment Initiative. 2011. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/44711/9789241564342_eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  31. Gostin LO, Phelan A, Stoto MA, Kraemer JD, Reddy KS. Virus sharing, genetic sequencing, and global health security. Science (New York, NY). 2014;345(6202):1295–6. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1257622.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gostin LO, DeBartolo MC, Katz R. The global health law trilogy: towards a safer, healthier, and fairer world. Lancet. 2017;390(10105):1918–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(17)31261-8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. World Health Organization. Report of the 2016 PIP Framework Review Group. 2017. https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA70/A70_17-en.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 13 Aug 2020.

  34. Shu Y, McCauley J. GISAID: global initiative on sharing all influenza data - from vision to reality. Euro Surveill. 2017;22:13. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.13.30494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. World Health Organization. Implementation of the Nagoya protocol and pathogen sharing: public health implications. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/documents/nagoya-protocol/nagoya-full-study-english.pdf?sfvrsn=ec2ab49d_12. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  36. World Health Organization. Pandemic influenza risk management: a WHO guide to inform and harmonize national and international pandemic preparedness and response. 2017. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/259893/WHO-WHE-IHM-GIP-2017.1-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  37. World Health Organization. Joint external evaluation tool second edition. 2018. https://extranet.who.int/sph/sites/default/files/document-library/document/9789241550222-eng.pdf. Accessed 9 Aug 2020.

  38. Jones KE, Patel NG, Levy MA, Storeygard A, Balk D, Gittleman JL, et al. Global trends in emerging infectious diseases. Nature. 2008;451(7181):990–3. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06536.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hitoshi Oshitani .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Imamura, T., Oshitani, H. (2021). Global Strategy for Influenza Viral Infection: What Is the Latest Information from WHO?. In: Fujita, J. (eds) Influenza. Respiratory Disease Series: Diagnostic Tools and Disease Managements. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9109-9_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9109-9_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-15-9108-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-15-9109-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics