Influenza Surveillance and Training in Central Asia

Project Objective

To improve influenza surveillance in the Central Asia region by training staff and supporting an electronic surveillance database for influenza at nine sentinel surveillance sites. With training, staff will be able to identify positive pandemic influenza samples at the sites. This will allow the Ministry of Health to respond rapidly to a pandemic influenza outbreak, reducing its spread through the Central Asia region.

Activities

• Train hospital epidemiologists and clinicians in standard case definitions for ILI and SARI
• Develop and improve the existing electronic flu database and surveillance activities
• Improve internet connectivity within nine surveillance sites
• Provide technical support to run PCR equipment in nine surveillance sites
• Support epidemiologists to present data at international influenza conferences
• Provide logistics support to epidemiologists for meetings with IHR intersectorial working group members from eight ministries within Kazakhstan
• Purchase laboratory supplies for nine sentinel surveillance sites