Infectious Diseases and HIV Conference

Seasonal and pandemic influenza outbreaks continue to challenge global health and precipitate important morbidity, mortality, and economic effects.

This session will overview the dynamics of influenza outbreaks, including surveillance and management strategies and the need for pandemic preparedness. Influenza is a contagious, often serious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, which primarily affect the respiratory tract.

Seasonal influenza epidemics occur annually in variable sizes, whereas pandemic influenza appears when a new strain with minimal prior immunity in the population is first identified, such as the case of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

The following module will inform participants on the public health effects of influenza, the impact on vulnerable populations including the elderly, young children, and any population with some form of under in medical condition, and the socioeconomic implications of widespread disease activity. A good surveillance can enable early detection of outbreaks and implementation of interventions at the right time.

In the current session, the present global surveillance networks are discussed, including the World Health Organization's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, GISRS, which helps observe the circulating strains as well as track the emergence of new ones.

The methods of sentinel surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, and genomic sequencing are discussed for identifying and characterizing influenza outbreaks.

Discussion of the potential of how real-time data sharing and modeling may be used to predict the extent to which an outbreak will spread and affect an area will also take place in addition to that. Treatment of influenza outbreaks includes antiviral therapy, supportive care, and public health measures in an effort to curb the spread of infection.

The module will focus on antiviral agents-including oseltamivir and baloxavir for severe cases-and discuss limitations caused by antiviral resistance. Participants will discuss non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as social distancing, mask-wearing, and school closings to reduce spread in the face of a severe outbreak.

As in every other influenza preventive measure, prevention remains vaccination. Obstacles facing influenza vaccine production include annual update of the vaccine based on circulating strains and ensuring high vaccine coverage. The main thrust of the session would remain universal influenza vaccines which can provide cross-protection and long-term protection.

During the pandemic preparedness session, participants will review strategies for rapid vaccine development, stockpiling antivirals, and the formulation of emergency response plans with an aim of mitigating the effects of future influenza pandemics.

Join the session with leading experts to facilitate the in-depth handling of managing outbreaks such as influenza. Improve surveillance, advance treatments, and above all, maintain preparedness for future pandemics.