WHO public health research agenda for influenza: road mapping for information gaps and research needs in a pandemic scenario

摘要

Experience to respond to influenza pandemic events accumulated over years around the world corroborates that health authorities often lack sufficient evidence-based information to address issues, particularly in a pandemic situation. The WHO Global Influenza Programme (GIP) in cooperation with international influenza experts developed a Public Health Research Agenda for Influenza to provide a framework of research topics that reflects public health research priorities for influenza, including immediate needs during pandemic periods.Research recommendations for the influenza pandemic scenario were developed and compiled by invited experts during the breakout group discussions held at the first global consultation meeting on Public Health Research Agenda for Influenza in November 2009. The suggested research roadmap prioritizes topics and questions relating to rapid action and response during pandemic periods per five key Agenda's research areas: Stream 1. Reducing the risk of emergence of pandemic influenza; Stream 2. Limiting the spread of pandemic, zoonotic and seasonal epidemic influenza; Stream 3. Minimizing the impact of pandemic, zoonotic, and seasonal epidemic influenza; Stream 4. Optimizing the treatment of patients; Stream 5. Promoting the development and application of modern public health tools. Realization of these recommendations is expected to provide an evidence-based public health practices to reduce the impact of pandemic influenza.