‘So not one outbreak goes unnoticed’: WHO supports influenza surveillance in Libya and Djibouti

22 July 2018 - During the last two weeks of June, two teams of influenza experts from WHO were deployed to Libya and Djibouti at the invitation of the countries’ Ministries of Health. The purpose was to assess and improve the influenza surveillance system, laboratories, and capacity of rapid response teams (RRTs) to detect and respond early to any threat. Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, who led the WHO delegation to Djibouti, said: “In both countries our teams had a comprehensive set of objectives. This allows us to really move the needle and improve the state of national influenza surveillance system - saving lives as a result.”