WHO updates Guidelines on influenza care to strengthen global preparedness

SWITZERLAND—The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated guidelines for managing patients suffering from influenza, a seasonal illness that circulates worldwide.

Seasonal influenza is widespread, affecting every region and contributing to a worldwide disease burden.

This announcement comes after the first global recommendations for preventing bloodstream and other infections caused by catheters inserted into tiny blood arteries during medical operations were released in May.

These revised guidelines are aimed primarily at healthcare providers responsible for treating individuals infected with the influenza virus.

However, they also serve as a valuable reference for policymakers, public health officials, and other stakeholders involved in epidemic and pandemic preparedness efforts.

These updates are especially relevant given the constant threat posed by both seasonal influenza strains and potential pandemic variants.

One key aspect of the new guidelines is their recommendations regarding antiviral treatments.

These include the use of antiviral medications, which can reduce the severity and duration of illness when administered promptly.

Additionally, the guidelines offer advice on the use of steroids and other immune-modulating therapies that help regulate the body’s immune response to the virus.

These treatments are particularly important in cases of severe illness, where immune system overreaction can lead to complications.

The guidelines are designed to apply broadly to patients infected with seasonal influenza viruses, potential pandemic influenza viruses, and newly emergent influenza type A viruses, which have been known to cause severe disease in humans.

WHO emphasizes the need for clinicians to be vigilant in identifying such cases, as they could have significant public health implications.

A multidisciplinary Guideline Development Group, consisting of experts in content, clinical practice, ethics, and methodology, led the process of reviewing and analyzing the available data.

The group produced evidence-based recommendations to guide clinical practice using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach. This process ensures that the guidelines adhere to the highest standards of quality and trustworthiness.

In addition to the updated guidelines, WHO’s broader efforts to combat influenza include the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) framework.

These initiatives aim to address gaps in access to effective medical therapies, diagnostic tools, and vaccines, particularly in low-resource settings.

Moreover, the updated guidelines also account for the risk posed by animal-origin influenza viruses, such as avian and swine influenza.

While these viruses have not yet shown the capacity for sustained human-to-human transmission, they remain a significant pandemic threat.

These zoonotic viruses can cause a range of symptoms in humans, from mild eye infections to severe respiratory illness and death.

Globally, seasonal influenza results in approximately one billion infections yearly, with three to five million cases of severe respiratory illness.

The disease also contributes to an estimated 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory-related deaths annually, not including fatalities linked to other influenza-related complications.

Given this significant impact, the new WHO guidelines aim to enhance healthcare systems’ preparedness and response capabilities worldwide.

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