Muscat, 17 May 2022 – A WHO team of infectious hazards preparedness technical experts are visiting Oman to discuss and review existing sentinel surveillance system for influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory illness. The mission aims to pilot test Eastern Mediterranean Region-reported data to the EMFLU-2 platform, build capacity and discuss Ministry of Health preparation for the new version of EMFLU-2. EMFLU-2 is a regional platform for sharing epidemiological and virological data on influenza in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

The platform has the capacity of integrating other respiratory diseases e.g. COVID-19, to share epidemiological data between the Regional Office and countries. Oman is among 4 countries in the Region to pilot test the new version.

The first version of the tool has been developed in line with the activities of the Partnership Contribution Plan 2013–2016 under the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework. The platform provides quantitative and qualitative data on trend, spread, intensity and impact of influenza in the Region. 

During the 2-day mission the team will conduct a national workshop to introduce the new features of the platform and discuss the influenza sentinel surveillance system in Oman. In addition, it will provide an overview of global and regional integrative approaches to identify opportunities and challenges for adopting the approach at country level.

The workshop will provide hands-on training on how to implement EMFLU-2 to collect and upload data, comprehend validation rules to ensure high quality of data, navigate dashboards and the mapping tool, and produce and publish influenza reports, as well as review how to use the data-importing tool of EMFLU-2.

Piloting a successful collection of epidemiological data and generating meaningful analysis and reports is a fundamental component of the influenza surveillance and preparedness programme in Oman.

It is anticipated that the training will enhance the influenza data management surveillance system and initiate methods to integrate the existing Tarassud surveillance system with the EMFLU-2 platform. This will improve notification, processing information and generating reports at subnational, national and regional levels for greater control and empowerment in the hands of national authorities.