SARInet plus and REVELAC-i bring together countries of the Americas to strengthen epidemiological response to respiratory viruses

Bogotá, Colombia, July 10, 2025 (PAHO) - The Regional Epidemiology Meeting of the Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Network (SARInet plus) and the Network for the Evaluation of Vaccine Effectiveness in Latin America and the Caribbean - Influenza (REVELAC-i) 2025 was held in Bogotá, Colombia, with the objective of strengthening surveillance, prevention and control of respiratory viruses in the Americas.

The meeting was coordinated by the Department of Health Emergencies (PHE) and the Special Program on Integrated Immunization (CIM) of the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and brought together 90 professionals, including epidemiologists and immunization specialists, from the Ministries of Health of 31 countries and territories of the Americas, together with regional technical and strategic partners.

During the first day, the meeting focused on the current situation of avian influenza A(H5N1). Recent epidemiological updates were shared, as well as national response experiences from the United States, Mexico and Brazil. The discussion also included the most recent recommendations of the Commission for the Prevention and Control of Zoonotic Influenza in the Americas (CIPCIZA) and to enhance the use of zoonotic vaccines in humans as a preventive measure against possible transmission scenarios.

The day continued with an approach to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), through presentations on the new regional clinical management guide, integrated surveillance efforts, seasonality analysis, current recommendations of the PAHO and WHO technical advisory group on immunizations and recent results of studies on the effectiveness of the maternal vaccine and the impact of the long-acting monoclonal antibody carried out in the region. The discussions allowed countries to share innovative approaches to improve diagnosis, surveillance, prevention and control of RSV, especially in vulnerable populations.

The second day was initially devoted to operational research and analysis of the medical and economic burden of respiratory viruses. Participants reviewed tools for estimating severity thresholds, as well as mortality monitoring systems to better guide public health decisions. In addition, the importance of generating local evidence to support the development of effective and sustainable public policies was highlighted.

For the remainder of the day, the focus was on pandemic preparedness. Topics relevant to the region were addressed, including the integration of pandemic preparedness activities within the framework of international health regulations (IHR), the implementation of the WHO's Preparedness and Resilience to Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative, and Unity studies. Representatives from Paraguay, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador and El Salvador shared their recent experiences in carrying out activities to strengthen the country's preparedness, highlighting the benefits of a coordinated and multi-sectoral approach.

The meeting concluded on July 10 with parallel sessions. One of these, organized by the REVELAC-i network, included a technical workshop on evaluating the effectiveness of RSV products and a practical exercise to estimate the economic burden of influenza vaccination. Simultaneously, members of the SARInet plus network engaged in discussions on methodological and logistical issues of sentinel surveillance and an interactive exercise was organized to improve the capacities of countries in the early detection of respiratory threats. The relevance of the implementation of the MOSAICO approach to optimize respiratory virus surveillance systems at the national level was presented and highlighted.

Throughout the event, countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, the use of evidence to guide public policies and the implementation of strategies aligned with global frameworks for preparedness and response to health emergencies.

Since their establishment, REVELAC-i in 2013 and SARInet plus in 2014, both networks have been key in strengthening epidemiological surveillance and scientific research on various respiratory infections, such as influenza, as well as in monitoring the impact of prevention measures implemented in the region.