OIE/FAO Network Of Expertise On Animal Influenza
OFFLU is the joint OIE-FAO global network of expertise on animal influenzas. OFFLU aims to reduce negative impacts of animal influenza viruses by promoting effective collaboration between animal health experts and with the human health sector. OFFLU puts a strong emphasis on the importance of analysing and sharing information, and biological material to identify and reduce health threats early, and on sharing information about animal influenza viruses with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to assist with the early preparation of human vaccines. Since its establishment in 2005, initially to support the global effort to control H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, OFFLU has become a strong and functional network.
The technical contribution to OFFLU is provided by an open network of world leading experts. This includes animal influenza experts from the OIE and FAO Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, and from other institutes with leading expertise in diagnostics, epidemiology, bioinformatics, vaccinology, and animal production. Under the coordination and management of OFFLU, experts work together in discussion groups, called OFFLU Technical Activities, on pertinent topics and on technical projects to provide concrete outputs on relevant influenza related issues. To date, these Technical Activities have delivered guidance on diagnostic protocols, antigenic matching of vaccine strains with circulating field viruses, minimum biosafety guidelines for laboratory workers, and strategic guidance on animal influenza surveillance.
The effectiveness and degree of collaboration between OFFLU and the human health sector (WHO) has improved significantly. This was highlighted following the emergence of pandemic H1N1 in April 2009 when OFFLU rapidly mobilised its experts to address the human-animal interface aspects of pandemic H1N1 jointly with colleagues from the public health sector.
OFFLU continues to develop in terms of scope and geographical representation, and is looking ahead to developing a sustainable and effective mechanism for monitoring influenza viruses in animals and for communicating significant findings to all partners quickly.
Read more about OIE/FAO Network Of Expertise On Animal Influenza: Vision Statement, Objectives, Origins
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