Technical guidance for an integrated approach to routine surveillance of respiratory viruses in the Americas (Interim version)

This technical guidance from PAHO is designed for those at the forefront of public health (national and subnational health authorities, epidemiologists, surveillance officers, laboratory focal points, and policymakers), who are working to build resilient systems for respiratory virus surveillance. Grounded in domain II of the MOSAIC framework, it offers a clear, actionable roadmap to enhance routine surveillance of viruses with epidemic and pandemic potential, including SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and others of public health concern.

By leveraging existing influenza platforms, the document helps countries establish integrated, flexible, and sustainable systems tailored to their unique capacities and contexts. It outlines the essential components of sentinel surveillance (from case definitions and sampling strategies to laboratory recommendations, data analysis, and evaluation) while also presenting complementary approaches such as syndromic reporting, mortality monitoring, wastewater surveillance, and population-specific strategies.

The guidance emphasizes the importance of high-quality data and timely reporting to global platforms like FluNet and FluID, ensuring that surveillance efforts contribute to regional and global preparedness. Whether you're planning, implementing, or evaluating surveillance systems, this publication serves as a practical reference to support evidence-based decision-making and coordinated response efforts under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005).

With this resource, PAHO invites public health leaders to strengthen surveillance systems that generate timely, actionable insights, helping the Region of the Americas stay ahead of emerging threats and seasonal trends.

This document is currently issued as an interim version.