Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses: Surveillance in the Americas 2019, 3. ed.

Abstract

This third edition of the landscape analysis of Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses: Surveillance in the Americas provides regional and country-specific data that is used and valued by forums in the Region and beyond.Data of regional trends include surveillance of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), influenza-like illness (ILI), influenza vaccine, FluNet/FluID reporting, and participation in WHO’s External Quality Assessment Project (EQAP). The second half of the report presents country-specific data on sociodemographic indicators, surveillance systems, virologic analysis, laboratory capacity, and trends in human-animal interface (HAI). To strengthen the Region’s surveillance abilities, it is important to understand the current capacity of each country and the issues in that country that need attention. Similarly, to assess progress over time, it is necessary to document regional trends. Because several indicators had changed since the last analysis was published, PAHO conducted an extensive survey to collect and compile additional, varied, and detailed data. This report illustrates the complexities in surveillance of influenza and other respiratory viruses and highlights differences in the countries’ preparedness capacities through charts, infographics, tables, and brief narratives.