Since 2005, National Institute of Health (Thai-NIH) was granted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC) to operate a project entitled “Development of Influenza Surveillance Networks” for 5 years on Phase 1 (2005 – 2009). There were 10 networking hospitals located in 8 provinces that participated in the project where influenza-like specimens were collected (5 samples/week) according to WHO protocol. During project closure in 2009, US-CDC further supported the second phase program named “Strengthening Thailand’s Influenza Surveillance Network to Support Influenza Control Policy and Improve Pandemic Preparedness” (2010 – 2014). The project focuses on integrating information between virological surveillance and epidemiological data. The ultimate goal is to deliver strategic information to the national authorities for policy making, disease control and capacity strengthening to improve pandemic preparedness. Currently, the influenza surveillance network has been undertaken in the last 5th year with 12 networking surveillance hospitals; Chiang San Hospital, Mae Chan Hospital, Mae Sot Hospital, Nongkhai Hospital, Prapokklao Hoapital, Hat Yai Hospital, Prachuap Khirikhan Hospital, Vachira Phuket Hospital, Bamrasnaradura Institute, Bangkok Public Health Center 17 and the 2 newly recruit hospitals under H7N9 emergency funding; Kingnarai Hospital and Aranyaprathet Hospital . Frequency of specimen collecting was adjusted from 5 samples/week to 5 children-specimens/week and 5 adult-specimens/week to cover a wider range of patients. Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) study has been conducted in Inpatient Department (IPD) with 5 specimens/week in 7 hospitals; Mae Sot Hospital, Prapokklao Hoapital, Bamrasnaradura Institute, Prachuap Khirikhan Hospital, Vachira Phuket Hospital, Kingnarai Hospital and Aranyaprathet Hospital. Project Deliverables
