WHO guidance for the surveillance of human infection with A(H1N1) virus

Interim WHO guidance for the surveillance of human infection
with swine influenza A(H1N1) virus
29 April 2009
Introduction
The audiences for this guidance document are the National Focal Points for the International
Health Regulations (IHR(2005)) and competent national public health authorities. The primary
focus of this guidance document is global surveillance. It also gives some suggestions on the
types of signals that Member States and IHR States Parties can capture in their event-based
surveillance. These signals can aid identification of individuals for whom investigation of swine
influenza A(H1N1) virus infection is warranted.
This is an interim WHO guidance on the global surveillance of the emerging swine influenza
A(H1N1) virus infection. This is a living document that will be reviewed on a weekly basis and
modified in accordance with changes in the epidemiology of this virus. As the event evolves,
there will be a need to switch surveillance activities to the longer-term monitoring of the
disease. WHO will alert countries when a change in surveillance objectives and methods occurs.
WHO’s data requirements will remain as flexible as possible to accommodate different
surveillance systems and reporting capacity around the world.
This document will form part of a suite of guidance documents being produced by WHO in
response to this public health emergency of international concern as determined by the Director
General of WHO on 25 April 2009. New influenza virus sub-types and clusters of unknown and
unusual disease are notifiable to WHO in accordance with the Annex 2 decision instrument of
the IHR (2005).
At this early stage of the outbreak of swine influenza A(H1N1) virus, the main aims of
surveillance are the early warning of virus spread and laboratory confirmation of virus
circulating in new geographical areas and countries. Accordingly, WHO encourages all Member
States and IHR States Parties to enhance their surveillance and diagnostic capacity for influenza
and other acute respiratory infections, building on exiting surveillance structure and resources.
Objectives of enhanced global surveillance for human infections with swine influenza
A(H1N1) virus
Specific objectives of this surveillance activity are to guide global prevention and control
activities through the following actions:
1. Detect and confirm cases of swine influenza A(H1N1) virus infection
2. Establish the extent of international spread of swine influenza A(H1N1) virus infection
3. Assist in the early severity assessment of the disease
Case definitions for infections with swine influenza A(H1N1) Virus
In order to understand the spectrum of severity of the disease caused by swine influenza
A(H1N1) virus infection , the clinical case description includes both mild form of influenza-like
illness (ILI) and more severe forms (lower respiratory tract infections including pneumonia and
severe acute respiratory illness (SARI)). In addition, asymptomatic laboratory-confirmed
infections should be reported.
The following case definitions are for the purpose of reporting probable and confirmed cases of
swine influenza A(H1N1) virus infection to WHO.
Clinical case description
Acute febrile respiratory illness (fever >38°C ) with the spectrum of disease from influenza-like
illness to pneumonia.
1. A Confirmed case of swine influenza A(H1N1) virus infection is defined as an individual
with laboratory confirmed swine influenza A(H1N1) virus infection by one or more of
the following tests*:
• real-time RT-PCR
• viral culture
• four-fold rise in swine influenza A(H1N1) virus specific neutralizing antibodies.
2. A Probable case of swine influenza A(H1N1) virus infection is defined as an individual
with an influenza test that is positive for influenza A, but is unsubtypable by reagents
used to detect seasonal influenza virus infection OR
A individual with a clinically compatible illness or who died of an unexplained acute
respiratory illness who is considered to be epidemiologically linked to a probable or
confirmed case.
* Note: The test(s) should be performed according to the most currently available guidance on
testing (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html).
Reporting requirements for confirmed and probable cases of swine influenza A(H1N1)
Under the IHR (2005), immediate reporting to WHO is required for human influenza due to a
new influenza virus sub-type. All information will be treated in accordance with the IHR (2005)
provisions. If available, countries should report travel history of case(s).
Reports should be sent by the National IHR Focal Point to the relevant WHO IHR Contact Point at
the WHO Regional Office, the WHO Country Representative, where applicable, and WHO
headquarters in Geneva should be copied on the correspondence
(http://www.who.int/csr/alertresponse/ihreventinfo/).
Reporting of individual(s) or clusters under investigation for swine influenza A(H1N1)
virus infection
Countries that identify unusual clusters of acute respiratory illness should immediately notify
WHO. These consultations will not be reflected in global statistics until their investigation
confirms that they are laboratory-confirmed or probable cases.
Definition of cluster
A cluster is defined as two or more persons presenting with manifestations of unexplained,
acute respiratory illness with fever >38°C or who died of an unexplained respiratory illness and
that are detected with onset of illness within a period of 14 days and in the same geographical
area and/or are epidemiologically linked.
Triggers/signals for the investigation of possible cases of swine influenza A(H1N1)
The primary focus of early investigation is to trigger the initial investigation. Specific triggers
include:
• Clusters of cases of unexplained ILI or acute lower respiratory disease
• Severe, unexplained respiratory illness occurring in one or more health care worker(s)
who provide care for patients with respiratory disease
• Changes in the epidemiology of mortality associated with the occurrence of ILI or lower
respiratory tract illness, an increase in deaths observed from respiratory illness or an
increase in the occurrence of severe respiratory disease in previously healthy adults or
adolescents
• Persistent changes noted in the treatment response or outcome of severe lower
respiratory illness.
Epidemiological risk factors that should raise suspicion of swine influenza A(H1N1) include:
• Close contact# to a confirmed case of swine influenza A(H1N1) virus infection while the
case was ill
• Recent travel to an area where there are confirmed cases of swine influenza A (H1N1)
#Close contact: having cared for, lived with, or had direct contact with respiratory secretions or
body fluids of a probable or confirmed case of swine influenza A(H1N1).
Member States reporting cases of swine influenza A(H1N1) virus infection for the first time
As soon as a the National IHR Focal Point or competent national public health authority notifies
WHO of the first laboratory-confirmed or probable case(s) of swine influenza A(H1N1), WHO will
make available the case summary form and database for the recording of detailed clinical,
laboratory and epidemiological data in accordance with WHO pandemic surveillance guidelines.
WHO Swine Influenza A(H1N1) Case Summary Form for case-based data collection [pdf 318kb]
http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/swineflu/WHOcasebasedsummaryform.pdf
A(H1N1) daily aggregated indicators [pdf 64kb]
http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/swineflu/AH1N1_daily_aggregated.pdf
WHO also requires information to assess whether sustained community transmission is
occurring. Wherever possible, a detailed exposure history should be collected by Member
States and shared with WHO.
Member States where cases of swine influenza A(H1N1) virus infection have already been
reported
Until further notice, the National IHR Focal Points or competent national public health
authorities should report to WHO all probable and confirmed cases on a daily basis. Deaths
should be reported for both probable and confirmed cases. A reporting format has been posted
on the web (link).
WHO will present the cumulative number of cases for global reporting back to Member States
and the public. This activity will only continue for the initial period of data collection.
In order to understand the severity of the disease it is very important that comprehensive data
collection and follow up is carried out for all probable and confirmed cases of swine influenza
A(H1N1) virus infection. WHO’s data requirements are detailed in the Global Surveillance during
an Influenza Pandemic Version 1 Updated draft April 2009 (Comprehensive Assessment, Clinical
characteristics: Database of information for 100 cases). A WHO Swine Influenza A(H1N1) Case
Summary Form has been posted on the web (Link). Member States are encouraged to report on
methods used for the selection of cases for inclusion into the dataset in order to assist the
interpretation of any result.
Confirmed and probable cases reported are to be attributed to the country or territory in which
they are currently located or where they have died.
The reported case-based data will be used by WHO to assess the clinical disease spectrum and
severity, and guide treatment recommendations.
National Influenza Centres and National reference centres should continue to report virological
information to Flu Net.
Access to Laboratory Confirmation
Countries without current capacity to confirm swine influenza A(H1N1) should contact WHO to
arrange access to a laboratory with this capability.

Source WHO