The seasonal influenza virus, or flu as it is widely known, infects over a billion people a year, resulting in up to 650,000 respiratory deaths annually.   

For this Global Health Matters podcast episode TDR have partnered with GISRS, the World Health Organization’s Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. Podcast host Dr Garry Aslanyan brings together two professors to share their unique experiences from both the global and national level of the influenza response:

GUESTS:
Mahmudur Rahman – Former Director, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research and National Influenza Center  
John McCauley – Former Director, Worldwide Influenza Centre, Francis Crick Institute

In Bangladesh, we learn from Mahmudur Rahman, the former director of the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control, that seasonal influenza was not considered that much as a very serious disease as, before SARS-Cov-2, they did not have the capacity to diagnose it properly.   
 
John McCauley from the World Influenza Centre is passionate about looking at ways to provide an integrated approach to better deal with the initial identification of respiratory infections such as RSV or SARS, this surveillance is important as they require different responses.   By building on the country-led support, knowledge and infrastructure that was built during the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic this could prove to be a game changer for seasonal influenza in the future.     

Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. 

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