Saatja: ANDERSEN, Anne-Marie <
[email protected]>
Saadetud: 17.06.2024 15:59
Adressaat: <=?utf-8?Q?Helen_S=C3=B5ber?=>
Koopia: <"Triin Uusberg">; <"SM Info">; <
[email protected]>; <Kaisa.Mitt-
[email protected]>; <
[email protected]>; <
[email protected]>;
KÖHLER, Kristina <
[email protected]>
Teema: Estonia - National Influenza Centre recognition status 2022/2023
Dear Ms Sõber,
On behalf of the Regional Emergency Director, I am pleased to send you
the attached letter regarding the status of the WHO recognized NIC in
your country.
Yours sincerely,
Regional Emergency Director
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION
ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
Date: 14 June 2024
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE Ms Helen Sõber
BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA Adviser
ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО European Union Affairs and International Co-
Head office:
operation Department
UN City, Marmorvej 51, Ministry of Social Affairs
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Suur-Ameerika 1
Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01
Email:
[email protected] 10122 Tallinn
Website: https://www.who.int/europe Estonia
Our reference: KNA/kha Your reference:
Notre référence: Votre référence:
Unser Zeichen: Ihr Zeichen:
См. наш номер: На Ваш номер:
Dear Ms Sõber,
Based on a review of the performance of the National Influenza Centre (NIC) in the WHO European
Region during the 2022/2023 influenza seasons, I am pleased to inform you that the WHO-recognized
NIC in Estonia headed by Ms Johanna Kristina Tamm at the Laboratory for Communicable Diseases,
Health Board Health Board meets the criteria and will continue to be recognized by WHO.
National Influenza Centres play a key role in influenza (sentinel) surveillance at the national level and
contribute to regional and global surveillance through the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response
System (GISRS). The data generated by the NICs are critical to understand the timing and spread of
influenza epidemics and the contribution of the different viruses to morbidity and mortality. For the
European Region, the data are reported weekly in the European Respiratory Virus Surveillance
Summary (ERVISS) bulletin jointly produced by WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European
Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
According to the Terms of Reference (ToR), the laboratories composing the National Influenza Centres
are requested to share representative seasonal influenza viruses (either positive samples or influenza
virus isolates) by shipping them to a WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on
Influenza (WHO CC). Characterization of these viruses from the whole GISRS network contribute to
the biannual selection of viruses for seasonal influenza vaccines and to the monitoring of susceptibility
to antiviral drugs.
In compliance with the Standard Material Transfer Agreement of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
(PIP) Framework, NICs are also requested to send emerging influenza viruses with pandemic potential
as well as clinical specimens and/or viruses that cannot be readily identified with diagnostic reagents
provided through the WHO GISRS to a WHO CC or H5 Reference Laboratory of their choice.
In addition, the laboratories composing the NIC should regularly assess their competencies by taking
part in the External Quality Assessment Programmes (EQAP), in particular the annual EQAP organised
by WHO Global Influenza Programme with the Centre for Health Protection in Hong-Kong SAR,
China.
One of the major lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic was that developing and maintaining
integrated population-based surveillance systems for influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory viral
infections of public health concern in Europe is an urgent priority. The implementation of the integrated
UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email:
[email protected]
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe
Denmark
respiratory surveillance that has already started by many countries of the Region will require further
strengthening of the sentinel surveillance systems and NICs as central and critical part of these systems.
We therefore encourage you, as the Ministry of Health, to continue providing full support to the NIC in
your country to allow them to fulfil their missions as specified in the WHO NIC ToR as well as in
leading national efforts towards integrated surveillance of influenza and other respiratory viruses of
public health concern.
WHO, for its part, will continue to support the NIC in your country through provision of technical
guidance, training and networking opportunities.
I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to thank you for the continued fruitful collaboration.
Sincerely yours,
Dr Gundo Weiler
Director Country Support and Partnerships
Acting Regional Emergency Director
Copy for information to:
Ms Triin Uusberg, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of
Social Affairs, Suur-Ameerika 1, 10129 Tallinn, Estonia
H.E. Ms Riia Salsa-Audiffren, Ambassador Representative of the Republic of Estonia, Permanent Mission of
the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Chemin
du Petit-Saconnex 28A, CH-1209 Genève, Switzerland
H.E. Mr William Mart Laanemäe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of
Estonia, Frederiksgade 19, 4th floor, 1265 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia
–2–
Enclosure
Details of the NIC in your country, status of WHO-recognition
and key reference documents
NIC should demonstrate each year that they comply with the WHO NIC terms of reference.
Those NIC that did not meet the criteria will have one year for corrective action, which will be
supported by WHO where possible.
Thank you for reviewing the NIC details below and to inform us of any changes.
1. NIC details
Laboratory for Communicable Diseases, Health Board Health Board
Paldiski mnt 81 Tallinn 10614 Estonia
Att.: Johanna Kristina Tamm
Status of WHO recognition for 2022-2023 season:
Maintained: NIC meets the criteria
Provisionally maintained: NIC failed to meet all the criteria
2. Key reference documents:
1. How to become a WHO-recognized National Influenza Centre: Guidance on the process for influenza laboratories in the
WHO European Region [web site]. Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe,
(https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2010-4407-44170-62368)
2. Terms of Reference for National Influenza Centres [web site]. Geneva, World Health Organization,
(https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/influenza/national-influenza-centers-
files/nic_tor_en.pdf?sfvrsn=93513e78_30)
3. Pandemic influenza preparedness framework for the sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other
benefits. Geneva, World Health Organization; 2011, (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240024854)
4. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control/WHO Regional Office for Europe, European Respiratory Virus
Surveillance Summary (ERVISS), (https://erviss.org/)
–3–