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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION Date: 10 February 2023 ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE Ms Elen Ohov BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA Adviser ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО European Union Affairs and International Co- Head office: operation Department UN City, Marmorvej 51, Ministry of Social Affairs DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Suur-Ameerika 1 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Email: [email protected] 10122 Tallinn Website: https://www.who.int/europe Estonia Our reference: KNA/kha Your reference: Notre référence: Votre référence: Unser Zeichen: Ihr Zeichen: См. наш номер: На Ваш номер: Dear Ms Ohov, Based on a review of the performance of the National Influenza Centre (NIC) in the WHO European Region during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 influenza seasons, I am pleased to inform you that the WHO-recognized NIC in Estonia headed by Dr Natalja Kuznetsova at the Laboratory for Communicable Diseases, Health Board Kotka meets the criteria and will continue to be recognized by WHO. National Influenza Centres play a key role in influenza (sentinel) surveillance at the national level and contribute to regional and global surveillance through the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). The data generated by the NICs are critical to understand the timing and spread of influenza epidemics and the contribution of the different viruses to morbidity and mortality. For the WHO European Region, the data are reported weekly in the Flu News Europe bulletin jointly produced by WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). According to the Terms of Reference (ToR), the laboratories composing the National Influenza Centres are requested to share representative seasonal influenza viruses (either positive samples or influenza virus isolates) by shipping them to a WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza (WHO CC). Characterization of these viruses from the whole GISRS network contribute to the biannual selection of viruses for seasonal influenza vaccines and to the monitoring of susceptibility to antiviral drugs. In compliance with the Standard Material Transfer Agreement of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, they are also requested to send emerging influenza viruses with pandemic potential as well as clinical specimens and/or viruses that cannot be readily identified with diagnostic reagents provided through the WHO GISRS to a WHO CC or H5 Reference Laboratory of their choice. In addition, the laboratories composing the NIC should regularly assess their competencies by taking part in External Quality Assessment Programmes (EQAP), in particular the annual EQAP organised by WHO Global Influenza Programme with the Centre for Health Protection in Hong-Kong SAR, China. The pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that started in early 2020 has clearly affected the normal functioning of influenza surveillance systems and the work of the NICs across the countries of the WHO European Region during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 influenza seasons. As public health emergency UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email: [email protected] DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe Denmark measures are being lifted and circulation of seasonal and zoonotic influenza viruses tends to increase, the sentinel surveillance systems should be maintained and strengthened to become a foundation for the integrated surveillance of influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses with epidemic and pandemic potential. We therefore encourage you, as the Ministry of Health, to continue providing full support to the NIC in your country to allow them to fulfil their missions as specified in the WHO NIC ToR as well as in leading national efforts towards integrated surveillance of influenza and other respiratory viruses of public health concern. WHO, for its part, will continue to support the NIC in your country through provision of technical guidance, training and networking opportunities. I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to thank you for the continued fruitful collaboration. Sincerely yours, Dr Gerald Rockenschaub Regional Emergency Director Copy for information to: Ms Triin Uusberg, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of Social Affairs, Suur-Ameerika 1, 10129 Tallinn, Estonia H.E. Ms Katrin Saarsalu-Layachi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28A, CH-1209 Genève, Switzerland H.E. Mr William Mart Laanemäe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Estonia, Frederiksgade 19, 4th floor, 1265 Copenhagen K, Denmark Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia –2–  Enclosure Details of the NIC in your country, status of WHO-recognition and key reference documents NIC should demonstrate each year that they comply with the WHO NIC terms of reference. Those NIC that did not meet the criteria will have one year for corrective action, which will be supported by WHO where possible. Thank you for reviewing the NIC details below and to inform us of any changes. 1. NIC details Laboratory for Communicable Diseases, Health Board Kotka Str 2, Tallinn 11315, Estonia Fax: +372 6943 651 Status of WHO recognition for 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons:  Maintained: NIC meets the criteria Provisionally maintained: NIC failed to meet all the criteria 2. Key reference documents: 1. How to become a WHO-recognized National Influenza Centre: Guidance on the process for influenza laboratories in the WHO European Region [web site]. Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe, (http://www.euro.who.int/en/what- we-do/health-topics/diseases-and-conditions/influenza/publications/2010/how-to-become-a-who-recognized-national- influenza-centre-guidance-on-the-process-for-influenza-laboratories-in-the-who-european-region) 2. Terms of Reference for National Influenza Centres [web site]. Geneva, World Health Organization, (http://www.who.int/influenza/gisn_laboratory/national_influenza_centres/terms_of_reference_for_national_influenza_ce ntres.pdf). 3. Pandemic influenza preparedness framework for the sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits. Geneva, World Health Organization; 2011, (http://www.who.int/influenza/pip/en/) 4. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control/WHO Regional Office for Europe, Flu News Europe, Joint ECDC–WHO/Europe weekly influenza update, (http://flunewseurope.org/) –3– Saatja: ANDERSEN, Anne-Marie <[email protected]> Saadetud: 13.02.2023 15:05 Adressaat: <"Elen Ohov"> Koopia: <"Triin Uusberg">; <"SM Info">; Ms K. Saarsalu-Layachi <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; Kaisa.Mitt-Alvarez <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; KÖHLER, Kristina <[email protected]> Teema: Estonia - National Influenza Centre recognition status 2020/2021/ and 2021/2022 Manused: image001.png; Estonia_National Influenza Centre (NIC)_2023.pdf Dear Ms Ohov, On behalf of Dr Gerald Rockenschaub, Regional Emergency Director, I am pleased to send you the attached letter regarding the status of the WHO recognized NIC in your country. Sincerely, Health Emergencies Programme WHO Regional Office for Europe