Timor-Leste’s National Influenza Centre achieves recognition as part of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System

Since 2018, Timor-Leste has undergone a process to designate the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) as a WHO National Influenza Centre (NIC). With coordinated technical and financial support from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne, Australia, the WHO South East Asia Regional Office, and the WHO Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework Partnership Contribution, core influenza surveillance and laboratory detection capacities have been strengthened - making the NPHL the primary laboratory in the country for influenza surveillance, and now a member of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS).

Timor-Leste benefited from consistent technical mentorship and support to build and strengthen key functions needed for influenza surveillance and detection - including specimen collection and referral, and diagnostics using RT-PCR techniques. These capacities were demonstrated on an annual basis through their participation and high-scoring in the WHO External Quality Assessment Programme (EQAP) - despite logistical challenges. It was also the basis for quickly establishing and maintaining testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2, which greatly benefited their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This formed the basis for the next steps in the recognition process, including continuous mentoring, and conducting joint assessments with the WHO Collaborating Centre and SEARO - which included procedural and document reviews, and field visits. Through this, and further periodic assessments, key areas needing further strengthening were identified and improved, including for bio-risk management, quality control, and equipment maintenance.

Throughout this process, Timor-Leste demonstrated increased participation in the GISRS network - including sharing influenza viruses with WHO Collaborating Centres, reporting influenza virological surveillance data to FluNet, participation and high scoring in the WHO EQAP, and in 2022, reporting of epidemiological data to FluID. This participation improves data representativeness and facilitates a timely and more effective response to a future influenza pandemic.

Acknowledging the improvements made by NPHL, the national commitment to building and sustaining influenza surveillance and detection capacities, and their consistent participation in the GISRS network, by August 2023 the NPHL was recognized as the 151^ndNIC in GISRS. Congratulations!