Survey on the implementation of integrated surveillance of respiratory viruses with pandemic potential

On 17 June 2022, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published the results of a response from 29 EU and EEA countries, following a survey on the implementation of integrated surveillance of respiratory viruses with pandemic potential. 

In brief findings from the survey: 

• Member states were in unanimous agreement that common objectives should be established for sentinel surveillance of respiratory viruses. 
• Overall, countries agree with the proposed ECDC and World Health Organization (WHO) core objectives for an integrated surveillance of respiratory viruses with pandemic potential. 
• Most countries are in the process of discussing, planning, or implementing integrated surveillance at national level. 
• Hurdles to the implementation of integrated surveillance are anticipated, particularly regarding the availability of necessary infrastructure and resources. 
• Changes in testing strategies for community testing have been implemented, or are expected to be implemented, in the majority of the countries. 
• Most countries have implemented or are planning to implement integrated sentinel surveillance (primary care (ILI/ARI) and SARI) and non-sentinel surveillance for influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV. 
• In contrast to the primary care sentinel surveillance, for SARI, 42% countries are still in the process of implementing surveillance systems.
• Genomic surveillance has been implemented in 93% countries for SARS-CoV-2, 79% countries for influenza and 28% countries for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). 
• Only a selected number of countries are currently monitoring vaccine effectiveness in primary and secondary care. 
• IHR/EWRS/EpiPulse notifications and the monitoring of human-animal interface are being actively used by the majority of countries for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. 
• Approximately 40% of countries have implemented special studies for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. 

Source: ECDC, 17 June 2022