The role of WHO in international studies on the ecology of influenza in animals

Abstract

The WHO Programme on human influenza began in 1947. In addition to this, WHO initiated a programme in 1957 to encourage and co-ordinate studies on influenza in animals and its relation to human influenza. Since 1976 WHO has intensified and expanded the programme, which now includes more than 90 collaborating laboratories throughout the world. Four of these collaborating institutions are particularly active and serve as reference centres for virus identification, providing reference reagents, training and distribution of information. This international collaborative study, co-ordinated by WHO, facilitates worldwide investigations in the field which permit the collection of much new information on the distribution of animal influenza viruses in nature, their antigenic and genetic composition, interrelations with human viruses and their possible role in the emergence of epidemic and epizootic disease. These data are distributed through WHO information systems, consultations and published bibliographies.