Welcome to the Influenza Virus Tracking System (interim)

The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing an electronic system to track influenza A(H5) and other sub-type viruses potential of a pandemic that have been shared by Member States with WHO through the Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN). This is in ...

response to the request from the inter-governmental meeting (IGM) on sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits.

The tracking system, currently available as an interim version, tracks the A(H5) and other potential pandemic sub-type viruses and clinical specimens that have been shared with WHO since 24 November 2007, as well as all A(H5N1) viruses that have been developed into candidate vaccine viruses and these candidate vaccine viruses since 2004.

The current interim tracking system indicated the following details:

* What A(H5N1) viruses/specimens have been shared with WHO
* Where these viruses/specimens are located
* What progeny materials have been generated
* Analyses that have been conducted on the viruses/specimens progeny materials
* Development of reassortant viruses as candidate vaccine viruses
* Distribution of viruses/specimens, progeny materials and candidate vaccine viruses

Improvement of the interim system is ongoing and it is anticipated that this system will be upgraded in the future.

Currently, data entry is conducted by WHOCollaborating Centers on influenza, WHO H5 Reference Laboratories, and Essential Regulatory Laboratories which are involved in the WHO A(H5N1) vaccine virus selection and development process. These are designated WHO laboratories.