WHO H5 Reference Laboratories
In 2004, the WHO H5 Reference Laboratory Network was established, as an ad hoc component of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), in response to the public health needs arising from avian influenza A(H5N1) infection in humans and influenza pandemic preparedness.
Avian influenza surveillance, laboratory and virology
Avian influenza viruses, circulating in avian populations, pose a permanent threat to public health, in particular those sporadically infecting human populations, e.g. A(H5N1), A(H9N2) as well as A(H7N7).
The GISRS has been playing a key role in laboratory surveillance, preparedness and response.
Related links
- WHO criteria for accepting positive PCR test results of H5 infection in humans from national reference laboratories
- Collecting, preserving and shipping specimens for the diagnosis of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection
- Influenza virus tracking system
- Updated unified nomenclature system for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses
- More information on WHO Human Animal Interface
Disease outbreak news - influenza
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Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia – update
2 May 2012 -
Avian influenza – situation in Egypt – update
12 April 2012 -
Avian influenza – situation in Cambodia – update
5 April 2012