Future directions for the European influenza reference laboratory network in influenza surveillance

• Main Authors: N Goddard (11306715), H Rebelo-de-Andrade (11306718), A Meijer (11306721), J McCauley (9104003), R Daniels (11306724), M Zambon (3216186)
• Format: Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Ecology,Evolution & Ethology; Infectious Disease; Community Networks; Cooperative Behavior; Disease Notification; Disease Outbreaks; Europe; European Union; Humans; Iceland; Influenza A virus; Influenza; Human; Interinstitutional Relations; Laboratories; Norway; Population Surveillance; Public Health; Quality Control; Surveys and Questionnaires; McCauley U117512723; WIC; 0605 Microbiology; 1117 Public Health and Health Services; 1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences; McCauley
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.25418/crick.15794988.v1

By defining strategic objectives for the network of influenza laboratories that have national influenza centre status or national function within European Union Member States, Iceland and Norway, it is possible to align their priorities in undertaking virological surveillance of influenza. This will help maintain and develop the network to meet and adapt to new challenges over the next 3-5 years and underpin a longer-term strategy over 5-10 years. We analysed the key activities undertaken by influenza reference laboratories in Europe and categorised them into a framework of four key strategic objectives areas: enhancing laboratory capability, ensuring laboratory capacity, providing emergency response and translating laboratory data into information for public health action. We make recommendations on the priority areas for future development.