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CDC Influenza Survey Unit

Nepal has created an Influenza Surveillance Network overseen by the National Influenza Centre (NIC) at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and the Ministry of Health & Population (MOPH), Nepal.

 PAHS is a collaborative partner and it receives grants from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention(USA) to implement the Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project (IPPRP). Patan Hospital serves as a sentinel site for Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection surveillance. Epidemiological and diagnostic Influenza data from PAHS is shared with the National Public Health Library (NPHL) and the Ministry of Population and Health (MoPH) Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.

 The over arching goal of the IPPRP is to support the MOPH (the apex body for Influenza and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response under the National Disaster Relief Co-ordination Committee) for the implementation of a National Avian Influenza and Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan through developing selected referral service centers for virological and epidemiological surveillance.

 The sub goals of IPPRP:

  •  To support MOHP and service provider institutions for outbreak management and prepare other agencies and communities at large to protect themselves and provide needed support during an outbreak.
  •  To develop a mechanism for regular virological and epidemiological surveillance in selected hospitals and districts to monitor the pattern of respiratory illness and characterize influenza viruses.
  •  To prepare three hospitals across Nepal for response to an outbreak of Avian Influenza and Influenza pandemic with the capacity of mobilizing technical teams for outreach services to districts.

Routine collection of specimens for ILI was established in January, 2011 at Patan Hospital. The operational definition for surveillance of ILI is defined as sudden onset of fever >38°C and either cough or sore throat in the absence of another diagnosis. At Patan Hospital, patients are triaged upon arrival to the appropriate clinic for services (male, female, under 14 years).  The attending physician diagnoses patients meeting the ILI case definition and sends them to the specimen collection room for throat swab collection.