Accreditation of National Health Laboratory as National Influenza Centre, Myanmar

The ceremony for accreditation of National Health Laboratory as National Influenza Centre took place on 26 February 2008. The launching ceremony was attended by His Excellency Lt-Gen Myint Swe of Ministry of Defence, His Excellency Professor Kyaw Myint, Minister of Health, His Excellency Prof Mya Oo, Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director, SEARO along with other distinguished guests including ambassadors of Australia, Cambodia, Japan, Charge d' Affaires of USA and UN Representatives. The Regional Director handed over the accreditation letter to the Ministry of Health.

The creation of National Influenza Centre in the National Health Laboratory is a remarkable achievement of the Government of the Union of Myanmar in responding to the current threat of influenza pandemic. WHO congratulates the Government of the Union of Myanmar for this commendable effort.

Influenza virus occasionally causes epidemic and pandemic. As far as records are available, there had been three major influenza pandemics in the 20th century. The most devastating one was the Spanish flu outbreaks in three consecutive waves across the globe in 1918. It killed at least 50 million people. The subsequent pandemics were in 1957 and 1968 respectively.  Even though milder, the later two pandemics still killed about 2 million people.

Influenza virus is prone to cause pandemic, because its genetic composition is relatively unstable. So, it frequently undergoes mutation, or combines with animal virus. The phenomena that can lead to the emergence of a novel virus, which the human population has no immunity. Therefore, the infection with this type of virus can rapidly spread and result in a pandemic.

Currently, there is a threat posed by Avian Influenza that may emerge as the next pandemic in human. To ensure effective preventive and control measures, there is a need of a system to monitor and predict the influenza epidemic right at its start.

WHO established a Global Influenza Surveillance Network to monitor and characterize influenza virus of pandemic potential since 1950. The backbone of this global network are the National Influenza Centres (NICs). These Centres are national institutions designated to be National Influenza Centres by National Health Authorities.

Since the Government of the Union of Myanmar has formally designated the National Health Laboratory as their National Influenza Centre: WHO now recognizes this Centre as a member of the Global Influenza Surveillance Network. This network currently consists of 122 centres in 93 countries around the world. Being a member of WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network entails both right and responsibility in the prevention of influenza pandemic.

To jump start the functioning of National Health Laboratory as NIC in Myanmar, WHO has provided reference reagents for the diagnosis of H5 virus. Every year, WHO will provide standardized kits for identification of the current strains of influenza viruses.  These reagents cannot be commercially procured; they are exclusively produced for NICs by WHO Collaborating Centres.

The information by these Centres on the antigenic characterization of influenza viruses that are globally circulating will be shared. NICs also will receive WHO publications on regional and global influenza activities. For this global network to maintain its vigilant monitoring, NIC will need to fulfil the following functions:

     Sharing of viruses for risk assessment;

     Sharing of the relevant information with the global network;

     Collecting clinical specimens and undertaking initial identification of type of virus.

     Alerting the Global Network of any influenza virus that cannot be readily identified by using WHO reagents.

Initially the NICs were primarily involved in the surveillance of seasonal influenza viruses. Due to the outbreaks of H5N1, the role of NICs have become increasingly important; their adequate capability and capacity to fully function as expected become indispensable. Timely and accurate diagnosis of influenza virus by NICs could be very helpful in averting a pandemic of influenza.

The National Health Laboratory in Myanmar will be an active partner in the regional and  global networking. Such networking will enable the sharing of methods, scientific findings, reagents and expertise.