From Epidemics to Pandemics: Over a Decade of Strengthening SARInet Laboratory Surveillance and Response for Respiratory Viruses in the Americas - Report - MDSpire

From Epidemics to Pandemics: Over a Decade of Strengthening SARInet Laboratory Surveillance and Response for Respiratory Viruses in the Americas

  • By

  • Juliana Almeida Leite

  • Priscila S Born

  • Ángel Rodríguez

  • Paula Couto

  • Mauricio Cerpa

  • Jean-Marc Gabastou

  • Lionel Gresh

  • Leticia Franco

  • Mariela G Martínez

  • Madelaine Sugasti

  • Jorge H Jara

  • Lidia Rodondo-Bravo

  • Iyanna Wellington Perkins

  • Andrea Patricia Villalobos Rodríguez

  • Rosa Ramirez

  • Ximena Terrazas

  • Juliana Barbosa

  • Marc Rondy

  • Andrea S Vicari

  • Sylvain Aldighieri

  • Richard Webby

  • Wenqing Zhang

  • Dimitry Pereyaslov

  • Magdi Samaan

  • Jairo Méndez-Rico

  • SARInet plus laboratory network

  • Jairo Méndez-Rico

  • Juliana Almeida Leite

  • Priscila S Born

  • Andrea Vicari

  • Elsa Baumeister

  • Andrea Pontoriero

  • Alicia Camara

  • Andrea Lerman

  • Osvaldo Uez

  • Indira Martin

  • Draven Johnson

  • Songee Beckles

  • Kasandra Forde

  • Aldo Sosa

  • Ruby Aguillon

  • Roxana Loayza

  • Cinthia Avila

  • Marilda Mendonça Siqueira

  • Fernando Couto Motta

  • Paola Cristina Resende

  • Luana Soares Barbagelata

  • Terezinha Maria de Paiva

  • SueMin Nathaniel

  • Risha Singh

  • Rodrigo Fasce

  • Patricia Bustos

  • Sergio Yebrail Gomez Rangel

  • Paula Estefania Rodriguez Romero

  • Hebleen Brenes

  • Jorge Sequeira-Soto

  • María Guadalupe Guzmán

  • Elias Guilarte Garcia

  • Catherina Jemmott

  • Eric Carbon

  • Lucía de la Cruz

  • Nurys de Castro

  • Alfredo Bruno

  • Doménica de Mora Coloma

  • Dalia Xochitl Sandoval López

  • Denis Gerson Jovel Alvarado

  • Selene González

  • Christa Leal

  • Joyce Whyte-Chin

  • Mustapha Abdul-Kadir

  • Jacques Boncy

  • Ito Journel

  • Mitzi Castro Paz

  • Dulce María Durón

  • Michelle Brown

  • Suwanie Lewis

  • Irma Lopez Martinez

  • Gisela Barrera-Badillo

  • Brechla Moreno

  • Danilo Franco

  • Cynthia Vazquez

  • María José Ortega

  • Johanna Balbuena-Torres

  • Maribel Huaringa

  • Candace Gumbs

  • Andrea Williams

  • Joseph N France

  • Wayne Felicien

  • Vernel Feloion

  • Phyllis S Pinas

  • Merissa A Garraway-Miller

  • Arlene Siebs

  • Hector Chiparelli

  • Natalia Goñi

  • Lieska Rodriguez

  • Pierina D’Angelo

  • March 10, 2025

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Enhancing SARInet Laboratory Surveillance for Respiratory Viruses in the Americas

Overview

Over the past decade, SARInet has significantly strengthened laboratory surveillance and response capabilities for respiratory viruses across the Americas. The network expanded from influenza-focused surveillance to include SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, improving regional preparedness and pandemic response.

Background

Emerging respiratory viruses such as SARS, influenza A(H1N1), MERS, and SARS-CoV-2 have posed recurrent epidemic and pandemic threats globally. The World Health Organization's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) was expanded to e-GISRS to monitor a broader range of respiratory viruses. In the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) established SARInet in 2014 to enhance laboratory capacity and surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections. SARInet supports timely detection, characterization, and reporting of respiratory viruses, thereby strengthening public health responses.

Data Highlights

YearNumber of NICs ReportingCountries Reporting via FluNetLaboratory-Confirmed Influenza A(H1N1)pdm Cases (2009)Confirmed Deaths (2009)
19513NANANA
200922NA>146,0003,292
20142222NANA
202431 NICs + 13 reference labs30NANA

Key Findings

  • SARInet was established in 2014 to enhance surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections across the Americas.
  • By 2024, SARInet includes 31 National Influenza Centres and 13 national reference laboratories, covering 30 countries reporting via FluNet.
  • Laboratories transitioned from immunofluorescence to molecular diagnostics (RT-PCR) during the 2009 influenza pandemic, improving detection accuracy and speed.
  • PAHO implemented targeted initiatives such as training, logistics support, and improved communication to overcome barriers in data reporting.
  • SARInet expanded in 2022 to SARInet plus, integrating surveillance for influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and other respiratory viruses with epidemic and pandemic potential.
  • Participation in WHO external quality assurance programs ensures high-quality and reliable laboratory testing across the network.

Clinical Implications

The enhanced laboratory capacity and integrated surveillance provided by SARInet enable earlier detection and characterization of respiratory viruses, facilitating timely public health interventions. Clinicians and public health officials benefit from improved data sharing and real-time monitoring, which support informed decision-making during epidemics and pandemics. Continued investment in training and logistics is essential to maintain and expand these capabilities.

Conclusion

SARInet has evolved into a robust regional network that significantly strengthens respiratory virus surveillance and response in the Americas. Its integration with global systems and expansion to include multiple respiratory pathogens enhances preparedness and resilience against future respiratory epidemics and pandemics.

References

  1. PAHO/WHO 2024 -- Evolving from Epidemics to Pandemics: A Decade of Enhancing SARInet's Laboratory Surveillance and Response

Original Source(s)

From Epidemics to Pandemics: Over a Decade of Strengthening SARInet Laboratory Surveillance and Response for Respiratory Viruses in the Americas

  • by Juliana Almeida Leite, Priscila S Born, Ángel Rodríguez, Paula Couto, Mauricio Cerpa, Jean-Marc Gabastou, Lionel Gresh, Leticia Franco, Mariela G Martínez, Madelaine Sugasti, Jorge H Jara, Lidia Rodondo-Bravo, Iyanna Wellington Perkins, Andrea Patricia Villalobos Rodríguez, Rosa Ramirez, Ximena Terrazas, Juliana Barbosa, Marc Rondy, Andrea S Vicari, Sylvain Aldighieri, Richard Webby, Wenqing Zhang, Dimitry Pereyaslov, Magdi Samaan, Jairo Méndez-Rico, SARInet plus laboratory network, Jairo Méndez-Rico, Juliana Almeida Leite, Priscila S Born, Andrea Vicari, Elsa Baumeister, Andrea Pontoriero, Alicia Camara, Andrea Lerman, Osvaldo Uez, Indira Martin, Draven Johnson, Songee Beckles, Kasandra Forde, Aldo Sosa, Ruby Aguillon, Roxana Loayza, Cinthia Avila, Marilda Mendonça Siqueira, Fernando Couto Motta, Paola Cristina Resende, Luana Soares Barbagelata, Terezinha Maria de Paiva, SueMin Nathaniel, Risha Singh, Rodrigo Fasce, Patricia Bustos, Sergio Yebrail Gomez Rangel, Paula Estefania Rodriguez Romero, Hebleen Brenes, Jorge Sequeira-Soto, María Guadalupe Guzmán, Elias Guilarte Garcia, Catherina Jemmott, Eric Carbon, Lucía de la Cruz, Nurys de Castro, Alfredo Bruno, Doménica de Mora Coloma, Dalia Xochitl Sandoval López, Denis Gerson Jovel Alvarado, Selene González, Christa Leal, Joyce Whyte-Chin, Mustapha Abdul-Kadir, Jacques Boncy, Ito Journel, Mitzi Castro Paz, Dulce María Durón, Michelle Brown, Suwanie Lewis, Irma Lopez Martinez, Gisela Barrera-Badillo, Brechla Moreno, Danilo Franco, Cynthia Vazquez, María José Ortega, Johanna Balbuena-Torres, Maribel Huaringa, Candace Gumbs, Andrea Williams, Joseph N France, Wayne Felicien, Vernel Feloion, Phyllis S Pinas, Merissa A Garraway-Miller, Arlene Siebs, Hector Chiparelli, Natalia Goñi, Lieska Rodriguez, Pierina D’Angelo

  • March 10, 2025

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