WHO launches new global strategy against influenza

GENEVA, Switzerland (CMC) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a global influenza strategy to protect people in all countries from the threat of influenza.

The WHO said the goal of the 2019-2030 strategy was to prevent seasonal flu, control the spread of influenza from animals to humans and prepare for the next pandemic of influenza.

"The question is not whether we will have another pandemic, but when. We must be vigilant and prepared. The cost of a major influenza epidemic will far exceed the cost of prevention. The pandemic influenza threat is still present, "said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that" the current risk that a new influenza virus is spreading from one country to another, "says Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. man to man and can potentially cause a pandemic is real.

The WHO said influenza remained one of the biggest public health problems in the world. Every year in the world, an estimated one billion cases, of which three to five million are serious cases, resulting in the death of 290,000 to 650,000 people as a result of a respiratory illness.

The WHO has said it recommends annual flu vaccination as the most effective way to prevent the flu. Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk for serious complications of influenza and for health care workers.

The new strategy is the most comprehensive and ambitious that WHO has ever developed to fight the flu. It describes each year a way to protect people and helps prepare for a pandemic by strengthening routine programs.

It has two primary objectives; namely, strengthening countries' capacity for disease surveillance and response, prevention and control, and preparedness.

To achieve this, Who has called for each country to develop a tailored influenza program that contributes to national and global preparedness and safety.

Develop better tools to prevent, detect, control and treat influenza, such as vaccines, antivirals and more effective treatments, in order to make them accessible to all countries.

"Thanks to the partnerships and efforts we have made over the years over the years, the world is better prepared than ever for the next major epidemic, but we are still not adequately prepared," said Dr. Tedros.

"This strategy aims to bring us to this point. Basically, it is about preparing health systems to manage shocks, which only happens when health systems are strong and healthy. "