Update of the Public Health Research Agenda for Influenza Discussed at WHO Meeting

The 2009 influenza pandemic highlighted significant gaps in our understanding of the virus and its impact on populations, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to convene a global consultation and publish the Public Health Research Agenda for Influenza 2009. This agenda aimed to address key limitations in tackling the public health impact of influenza and guide research efforts in reducing the burden of seasonal epidemic influenza and the risk of pandemic influenza.

In 2017, an update to the research agenda was published following extensive consultations. This update identified high-priority areas in influenza research across five streams of work. The streams included reducing the risk of emergence of pandemic influenza, limiting the spread of pandemic, zoonotic, and seasonal epidemic influenza, minimizing the impact of pandemics, optimizing patient treatment, and promoting the development and application of modern public health tools.

While the recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant advancements in understanding virus transmission, pharmaceutical interventions, and non-pharmaceutical measures, the influenza virus continues to evolve, causing epidemics in humans and posing a pandemic threat. This evolving landscape necessitates the updating of the WHO Public Health Research Agenda for Influenza.

To address this need, in early 2024, WHO established virtual work streams corresponding to the defined streams to review progress and finalize the update of the research agenda. The meeting aimed to review findings from systematic literature reviews, assess progress made since 2017, identify knowledge gaps, and develop strategies to address them. The ultimate goal was to produce a first draft of high-priority areas in influenza research, including identifying key research questions specific to low- and middle-income countries.

Participants in the meeting included leads and co-leads of the five work streams, literature reviewers, and external and WHO experts. The collaborative effort aimed to bridge gaps in understanding influenza, enhance preparedness for future outbreaks, and strengthen global efforts in combating infectious diseases.

In conclusion, the ongoing evolution of influenza viruses and the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the importance of updating and expanding research agendas to address emerging threats. By bringing together experts from various fields, WHO’s efforts to update the Public Health Research Agenda for Influenza aim to enhance global preparedness and response capabilities, ultimately improving public health outcomes in the face of infectious diseases.