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

  • 0 min

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Clinical Scorecard: Evolving from Epidemics to Pandemics: A Decade of Enhancing SARInet's Laboratory Surveillance and Response for Respiratory Viruses Across the Americas

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
ConditionEmerging and reemerging respiratory viruses with epidemic and pandemic potential, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2
Key MechanismsLaboratory surveillance, genomic characterization, data sharing via FluNet and PAHOFlu, and regional network coordination through SARInet and WHO e-GISRS
Target PopulationPopulations across the Americas region vulnerable to respiratory virus epidemics and pandemics
Care SettingPublic health laboratories, sentinel hospitals, and national reference laboratories within the Americas

Key Highlights

  • SARInet, established in 2014, expanded laboratory surveillance capacity for respiratory viruses in 31 countries across the Americas.
  • Integration of surveillance for influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and other respiratory viruses under SARInet plus enhances epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
  • PAHO and WHO collaborations support training, logistics, and data systems (FluNet, PAHOFlu) to improve timely and accurate respiratory virus surveillance.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

  • Use high-quality standardized real-time RT-PCR assays for rapid and accurate detection of respiratory viruses.
  • Conduct antigenic and genetic characterization of detected viruses to inform vaccine composition and public health response.

Management

  • Strengthen laboratory capacity and regional networks to enable early detection and response to emerging respiratory virus threats.
  • Implement integrated information systems (e.g., PAHOFlu) for real-time monitoring and data sharing among health authorities.

Monitoring & Follow-up

  • Regularly report virologic data through FluNet to support global surveillance efforts.
  • Participate in WHO External Quality Assurance Programs to ensure laboratory testing accuracy and reliability.

Risks

  • Challenges include lack of trained personnel, logistical issues in sample transportation, and communication gaps between laboratories and epidemiology teams.
  • Inconsistent data submission may disrupt timely detection and response to respiratory virus outbreaks.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Populations affected by respiratory virus epidemics and pandemics in the Americas

Not applicable; article focuses on surveillance and laboratory response rather than clinical treatment or prescribing.

Clinical Best Practices

  • Develop and maintain robust laboratory networks such as SARInet to support respiratory virus surveillance.
  • Enhance laboratory capacity through training, logistics support, and adoption of molecular diagnostic techniques.
  • Foster collaboration between laboratories, epidemiology teams, and public health authorities for integrated surveillance and response.
  • Utilize global platforms like FluNet and PAHOFlu for data sharing and real-time monitoring.
  • Ensure participation in quality assurance programs to maintain high standards in laboratory testing.

References

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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