In Ashgabat, a training seminar was held in the field of epidemiological surveillance of influenza, as well as the use in Turkmenistan of the updated pan-European electronic program TESSy on epidemiological surveillance of influenza and acute respiratory infection (ARI).

The course, organized by the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan, brought together experts from the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, representatives of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service, the Directorate of Centers for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases, as well as the velayat Health Directorates and SES responsible for the supervision and management of electronic influenza and ARI surveillance program.

Over the course of two days, the participants familiarized themselves with the updated guidelines on sentinel surveillance of influenza and ARI in Turkmenistan, reviewed aspects of laboratory surveillance, and discussed issues of reporting and data management. In this regard, WHO/Europe experts shared with the audience the changes in the electronic influenza surveillance program, taking into account the new guidelines, and provided information on the pan-European platform for influenza surveillance TESSy. National medical experts had the opportunity to practice in the TESSy system and learn about the technical aspects of data entry and processing.

It should be noted that the training was conducted within the framework of the Action Plan of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Mechanism in Turkmenistan.

Strengthening influenza surveillance has been identified as a priority in a number of international initiatives. In particular, the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Control Agenda, launched in 2002, has identified several priority activities, including strengthening clinical and virological surveillance, increasing knowledge of the burden of influenza, and expanding the use of influenza vaccine globally.

Ayjahan Ataballyeva