The Australian WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza is part of the World Health Organization influenza surveillance network. The network was established in 1947 to monitor the frequent changes in influenza viruses with the aim of reducing the impact of influenza through the use of vaccines containing currently circulating strains.
The two major original objectives of the WHO program were:
To study the origins of epidemic and pandemic influenza strains;
To provide new virus strains quickly for the production of vaccines in the face of outbreaks.
Since then the WHO influenza surveillance network has grown to involve approximately 110 National Influenza Centres in 80 countries and four WHO Collaborating Centres for Influenza Reference and Research located in London, Atlanta, Melbourne and Tokyo.
The Melbourne Centre was originally established as a Regional Influenza Centre in 1951 and was subsequently upgraded to Collaborating Centre status in 1992.
Terms of Reference:
(i) to obtain and preserve representative strains from outbreaks and sporadic cases of influenza in most countries of the Southern Hemisphere, fully characterise their antigenic properties and distribute them to research and production laboratories;
(ii) to exchange information and new antigenic variants of influenza viruses with the WHO Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza in Atlanta and London;
(iii) to advise on the strains which should be included in influenza vaccines;
(iv) to arrange for the training of research workers in specialised techniques for isolation, diagnosis and studies of influenza viruses;
(v) to collect epidemiological information on the prevalence of influenza in most countries of the Southern Hemisphere; and
(vi) to assist WHO and national health authorities in developing plans for responding to pandemic influenza and to undertake work programs which will improve the pandemic response.
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