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Title: Networking: OFFLU example

Author
item Swayne, David
item HAMILTON, KEITH - World Organization For Animal Health
item PAVADE, GOUNALAN - World Organization For Animal Health
item DAUPHIN, GWEN - Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations (FAO)
item DANIELS, PETER - Australian Animal Health

Submitted to: The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2014
Publication Date: 10/14/2014
Citation: Swayne, D.E., Hamilton, K., Pavade, G., Dauphin, G., Daniels, P. 2014. Networking: OFFLU example [abstract]. In: Book of Abstracts for the Third Global Conference of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Reference Centres: Challenges and Expectations for the Future. p. 13.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the United Nations Influenza Network (OFFLU) is the joint OIE-FAO global network of expertise on animal influenzas: equine, swine, poultry and wild birds. OFFLU aims to reduce negative impacts of animal influenza viruses by promoting effective collaboration among animal health experts and also with the human health sector. OFFLU emphasizes the importance of analyzing and sharing information and biological materials to identify and reduce health threats. OFFLU is an open network of more than 60 leading influenza scientists on six continents representing at least 26 countries including experts from the OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, FAO Reference Centres, and from other institutes with expertise in diagnostics, epidemiology, bioinformatics, vaccinology, virology, molecular biology, veterinary medicine and animal production. OFFLU brings together discussion groups, called OFFLU Technical Activities, on topical issues and on technical projects to provide considered advice or concrete outputs on influenza related issues. These Technical Activities have produced guidance on influenza diagnostic protocols; proficiency testing/ring trial for avian influenza labs; development of standardized ribonucleic acid (RNA) reference materials; minimum standards for handling avian influenza (AI) viruses in veterinary laboratories; scientific advice on vaccine efficacy and vaccine effectiveness in field situations; antigenic matching of vaccine strains with circulating field viruses (avian, swine and equine influenza viruses); a global influenza research agenda, strategic guidance on animal influenza surveillance; a coordinated approach to global swine influenza surveillance, diagnosis and research. For good networking, OFFLU gathers its contributors by organizing technical meetings on annual or biannual basis and also conducts meetings on specific topics, such as swine influenza or lessons learned from avian influenza vaccination. OFFLU collaborates with human health sector (World Health Organization [WHO]), providing expertise on animal influenza at human-animal interface, coordinating animal health information during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009 and the H7N9 avian influenza outbreak during 2013, and ad hoc advice on other emerging animal influenzas such as H3N2v in pigs, H10N8 in birds, and H3N8 in camels. Biannually, OFFLU provides genetic and antigenic data and analysis to the WHO Vaccine Composition Meeting. OFFLU gathers diagnostic protocols, validation data, and data on experimental studies for pathogenesis and shedding, and shares such within OFFLU and the broader animal health and public health community.