Guatemala October 21, 2021, During the morning of Thursday, October 21, the Technical Meeting for Strengthening Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance was held. It involved technical staff from PAHO/WHO, Department of Epidemiology and National Health Laboratory of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS); At this meeting, the findings and recommendations found during the technical mission conducted with the regional specialists from the PAHO/WHO Health Emergencies Program and the Respiratory Virology Laboratory of FIOCRUZ, Brazil, and the National Influenza Center of Brazil, were analyzed and discussed. WHO COVID-19 Reference Laboratory/Regional Sequencing Laboratory of the PAHO COVID-19 Genetic Surveillance Network (COVIGEN).

The issues were jointly analyzed; Sentinel influenza surveillance and inclusion of COVID19, virological surveillance of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in the National Health Laboratory, disease burden of COVID19 and influenza and implementation of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan (PIP) among others.

The results of the PAHO/WHO Technical Cooperation Mission were presented in a final report at a face-to-face meeting of Health Minister Dr. Francisco Coma Martin and PAHO/WHO Representative Dr. Lilian Renau and will be formally communicated.