Influenza

Global Influenza Strategy 2019-2030

11 March 2019 – WHO launched today the Global Influenza Strategy for 2019-2030, aimed at protecting people in all countries from the threat of influenza. The strategy meets one of WHO’s mandates to improve core capacities for public health, and increase global preparedness and was developed through a consultative process with input from Member States, academia, civil society, industry, and internal and external experts.

The goal of the strategy is to prevent seasonal influenza, control the spread of influenza from animals to humans, and prepare for the next influenza pandemic. It provides a framework for WHO, countries and partners to approach influenza holistically – from surveillance to disease prevention and control – with the goal of strengthening seasonal prevention and control and preparedness for future pandemics.

• More about the global influenza strategy

WHO Consultation and Information Meeting on the Composition of Influenza Virus Vaccines for Use in the 2020-21 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

28 February 2020 - WHO convenes technical consultations in February and September each year to recommend viruses for inclusion in influenza vaccines for the northern and southern hemisphere influenza seasons, respectively. This meeting announcement and recommendation relates to the influenza vaccines for use in the forthcoming northern hemisphere 2020-21 influenza season.

• Read the meeting announcement
• Read the recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for 2020-2021 Northern Hemisphere influenza season

Influenza: are we ready?

12 October 2018 - At the start of the flu season in the Northern hemisphere, WHO launched today an in-depth multimedia package on influenza, including the lessons we can learn from previous flu pandemics, how prepared we are for another one, and how work on seasonal flu can help countries to prepare for future pandemics.

The flu comes around every year, everywhere - and children are among some of the most vulnerable. We asked children all over the world to illustrate this spotlight on flu, which includes 5 Things To Do If You Have The Flu and 5 Ways to Avoid Getting The Flu.

• Read the spotlight

Pandemic Influenza: an Evolving Challenge

2018 marks the 100th anniversary of one of the largest public health crises in modern history, the 1918 influenza pandemic known colloquially as “Spanish flu.” The intensity and speed with which it struck were almost unimaginable – infecting one-third of the earth’s population, which at the time was about 500 million people. By the time it subsided in 1920, tens of millions people are thought to have died.

Although influenza has been with humankind for millenia, the global spread and impact is in many respects a function accelerated in modern times. Urbanization, mass migration, global transport and trade accelerate the spread of pandemics.

• Read the story

The Global Influenza Programme

The Global Influenza Programme (GIP) provides Member States with strategic guidance, technical support and coordination of activities essential to make their health systems better prepared against seasonal, zoonotic and pandemic influenza threats to populations and individuals.

Substantial progress has been made in the 70 years building on collaborative platforms and global solidarity.

• Learn more about our last 70 years and future milestones
• More about GIP