Integrated respiratory virus surveillance guidance for the EU/EEA: A framework for surveillance to inform public health action

This document is the main module of a suite of documents that together comprise guidance for integrated respiratory virus surveillance in the EU/EEA. Additional modules will be published as separate, linked documents, covering individual topics in detail. This document may be updated to reflect new developments or when new modules are published.

Integrated respiratory virus surveillance combines information from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive assessment of acute respiratory illness in the population. Effective integrated surveillance should generate information to guide public health actions, such as data interpretation, reporting and communication and prevention and control measures.

This guidance supports the fulfilment of EU legislation which sets the requirements for coordinated surveillance, early warning, and response. It focuses on the routine indicator- and event-based surveillance of respiratory viruses, including influenza viruses, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Although this guidance does not specifically focus on surveillance of zoonotic influenza viruses or overall pandemic preparedness, its implementation will support and strengthen both areas. The guidance defines action-oriented surveillance objectives; the mix and design of surveillance systems needed to meet them, and how the resulting data are analysed to inform action at different levels. Its development was informed by a working group of members of the European Respiratory Viruses Network (ERVI-NET). This guidance is also intended to support national and subnational public health authorities in decisions concerning the allocation of resources for surveillance.

Three overarching objectives guide integrated respiratory virus surveillance in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA):