WHO ARE YOU | Third Scientific Conference and Sixth EMARIS Meeting on Acute Respiratory Infections in the Region ends in Muscat | News

news5s4 days ago

0 5 minutes read

March 18, 2023 – Focusing on better preparedness, early detection, rapid response and increased research on respiratory diseases, Third Scientific Conference and Sixth EMARIS meeting on acute respiratory infections in the Eastern Mediterranean Region ended in Muscat, Oman.

Serving as a platform to demonstrate cooperation and solidarity, the 3-day meeting and conference convened more than 200 health experts from WHO, Member States, Centers for Control and Prevention epidemic in the United States and partner organizations.

In addition to the extensive discussions, the meeting and conference recommendations focused on how countries continue to invest and sustain gains throughout the COVID-19 response- 19, especially in light of the complex needs of urgent countries in the Region. These include continuing to strengthen health surveillance and detection systems, improving readiness to respond to potential future pandemics of influenza and other respiratory pathogens, and investing in into antiviral drug research and vaccine production.

Leveraging lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic response, operating One Health approaches and integrated surveillance have emerged strongly in scientific discussions. Health threats such as epidemics and pandemics do not occur in isolation and a holistic health approach is essential to effectively detect and respond to public health threats in environmental interface between animals and humans.

Similarly, pre-pandemic risk assessment and control strategies cannot be well implemented without structured and effective monitoring of animal populations, to the benefit of both animal health and animal health. and human.

In addition, participants called for more effective data sharing among all stakeholders in the Region, urging them to take a regional approach to virus or sequence data sharing. prior to any outbreaks, epidemics or pandemic events.

Another recommendation focuses on further strengthening surveillance regarding health risks that may arise during mass gathering events, such as hajj and umra, in the Region.

WHO experts reiterate WHO’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of countries to prevent, prepare for, detect and respond to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies . WHO is helping countries to better integrate surveillance, laboratory, clinical management and public health interventions to respond to any potential outbreaks, including those caused by respiratory pathogens.

Moments of EMARIS 2023

The core of EMARIS 2023 is strong solidarity and cooperation among all health stakeholders

The press conference at EMARIS 2023 included WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Emergency Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Richard Brennan, Sir Dr Said Al Lamki, Undersecretary for Health Affairs at Oman’s Ministry of Health, and Dr David Wentworth, Head of Diagnostic and Virological Surveillance, Influenza Division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Scientific conference at EMARIS

Four scientific seminars were held on the sidelines of EMARIS 2023, focusing on:

Burden of influenza estimates – new experiences and tools

One Health Approach and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) surveillance, preparedness and response

Establishing and expanding seasonal influenza vaccination in the Region: policy and program considerations and best practices

Infodemia and the community listen to respiratory virus events causing epidemic/pandemic-learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and new tools

scientific research exhibition

Poster exhibition to be held at EMARIS 2023 showcasing various scientific studies presented at the conference

At the closing session, health leaders honored 21 medical institutions and scientists from across the Eastern Mediterranean Region who presented the results of their research at the sixth meeting of the European Union. The Eastern Mediterranean Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance Network, as well as its recent significant contribution to improving national quality and regional preparedness and response for respiratory diseases respiratory infections are associated with epidemics and pandemics.

1. Somali Health Ministry expands influenza surveillance and introduces EMFLU-2 in emergency context

2. Department of Public Health and WHO Country Team in Afghanistan to maintain influenza program and share virus and data during difficult emergencies

3. National Influenza Center in the Islamic Republic of Iran to maintain key functions and respond to requests under difficult circumstances

4. The Ministry of Health of the Sultanate of Oman shares timely and regular data with regional and global flu platforms

5. National Influenza Center in the Kingdom of Bahrain for continuously sharing the virus with the WHO Collaborating Center during the 2020/21 Season

6. United Arab Emirates Regional Reference Laboratory to assist the Eastern Mediterranean Region in strengthening laboratory capacity and networking

7. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has exemplary expanded influenza surveillance in recent years

8. Moroccan Ministry of Health implements integrated surveillance of influenza and respiratory pathogens

9. Egyptian Ministry of Health maintains RSV . surveillance

10. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides sustained financial support to countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in surveillance, preparedness, and response to influenza and respiratory pathogens

11. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework to provide long-term support to countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region in pandemic preparedness

12. Global Health Task Force/PIVI Partners assisting countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in seasonal influenza vaccination

13. WHO Collaborating Center for Influenza Surveillance, Epidemiology & Control Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA to provide exemplary support to national influenza centers in the East Mediterranean

14. WHO Collaborating Center for Influenza Reference and Research Francis Crick Institute, UK to model support for national influenza centers in the Eastern Mediterranean region

15. GISRS Group and Network for their influenza surveillance work

16. WHO IMST Group (country and regional groups) for COVID-19 pandemic response

17. The Oman Ministry of Health hosts the Third Scientific Conference and the Sixth Meeting of the EMARIS Network

18. Best Innovative Research Methodology Solution for Ms. Aicha Boukthir from Tunisia for her research: “High-risk groups involved in updating influenza vaccines in Tunisia: A qualitative study”

19. The Best Poster Award goes to Dr. Omar Elahmer from Libya for his research: “Biological Risk Management to Strengthen Laboratory Capacity in Sample Inventory and Management: North Regional Collaboration Fly”

20. Best Presentation Award for Ms. Zeina Farah from Lebanon for her research: “Estimation of flu-related hospitalization rates using key surveillance data, Lebanon 2015 2020”

21. Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Talat Mokhtari Azad for his work in influenza and respiratory pathogens surveillance