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Original Papers
VIRAL INFECTIONS
Influenza
[dagger]. Members of the FLURISK Consortium are given in the Appendix.
INTRODUCTION
Influenza A viruses originating from animals can adapt to infect humans following mutation or gene exchange [1]. Such viruses might cause the next influenza pandemic given that the human population has not previously acquired immunity. Identification and characterization of influenza A viruses circulating in animals are prerequisites for pandemic preparedness and should be combined with a decision-making process to allow for appropriate preparation and response. Surveillance in animals is, however, mostly implemented with the objective of safeguarding animal health and international trade. Activities therefore mainly target viruses notifiable to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), such as H5 and H7 highly pathogenic influenza viruses in poultry [2] and equine influenza (EI), or investigate H1N1pdm09, H1N2 or H3N2 viruses in swine [3].
In order for an influenza surveillance system to detect the emergence of a potentially zoonotic virus in a timely way, several integrated components of active-representative or risk-based surveillance should be in place, coupled with timely communication of results, including genetic sequence data, to the international community. Since influenza virus strains can circulate in animals without causing clinical signs, healthy as well as diseased animal populations should be targeted. Through a review of surveillance strategies currently implemented in animals (excluding production or market environments), this survey contributed to assessing the capacity of countries to detect viruses with zoonotic potential and mechanisms in place to inform pandemic preparedness at the international level. The aim was to identify how existing efforts may be improved and where existing components could be adapted to inform human pandemic risk. Results identified geographical areas and/or target species that merit strengthened influenza surveillance activities to enhance pandemic preparedness.
METHODS
Data collection
A global cross-sectional survey directed at Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) of 183 countries was conducted to collect more comprehensive and detailed information on influenza surveillance in different animal species in the period 2010-2012, as well as information sharing mechanisms instigated upon detection of positives. Only 183 countries were contacted for the survey since FAO communication channels were used to send out the questionnaire and these excluded small island states and overseas territories. The 242 countries used as...