- The World Health Organization has released a Global Influenza Strategy for 2019-2030. It aims at protecting people across the world from influenza. Influenza or flu is a contagious disease caused by influenza viruses. According to WHO, influenza is one of the world’s greatest public health challenges.
- The objectives of the strategy are a) prevent seasonal influenza, b) control the spread of influenza from animals to humans and, c) Prepare for the next influenza pandemic. A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and spreads around the world, and most people do not have immunity
- The WHO strategy has recommended countries to formulate a special influenza programme. This would help in disease surveillance, prevention, control, and preparedness for influenza.
- It has also recommended the development of more effective and more accessible vaccines and antiviral treatments.
