Key points
- The Influenza Division provides scientific and programmatic leadership for the detection, prevention, and control of influenza in the United States and around the world.
- The Influenza Division seeks to protect people from seasonal influenza, as well as pandemic influenza, which can occur when a new influenza virus emerges that can infect people and spread globally.
Our mission
The mission of the Influenza Division (ID) is to advance global control and prevention of seasonal and new influenza and improve influenza pandemic preparedness and response.
Priorities
ID is focused on improving public health and preventing disease from seasonal and pandemic influenza by:
- Improving vaccine impact – ID works to expand CDC influenza laboratory capacity to develop and evaluate additional candidate vaccine viruses for existing influenza vaccine platforms and vaccine technologies under development.ID also prioritizes improved communication to strengthen public vaccine messaging and works to enhance the scientific study of how well influenza vaccines are working to prevent illness.
- Improving influenza detection and control – ID works to strengthen influenza data collection, integration, and analysis by:
- Exploring alternative sources of data, increasing influenza laboratory capacities in other countries, and expanding the global network of regional field sites to improve outbreak detection.
- Enhancing influenza genomic sequencing efforts at CDC and in state public health labs, which provides needed data to formulate annual influenza vaccines and early warning on changes to viruses that have pandemic potential.
- Updating influenza diagnostic tools by exploring and developing new technologies such as a multi-plex PCR diagnostic assay that allows subtyping influenza at public health laboratories in the United States and around the world.
- Improving influenza control through increased use of antiviral medication and the communication of new scientific findings of improved outcomes for vaccinated persons with underlying conditions
- Exploring alternative sources of data, increasing influenza laboratory capacities in other countries, and expanding the global network of regional field sites to improve outbreak detection.
- Improving epidemic and pandemic preparedness – ID works to strengthen influenza epidemic and pandemic preparedness by improving influenza vaccine introduction, implementing new ways to visualize and forecast outbreaks, and supporting inter-agency pandemic planning and infrastructure development.
Our work
ID uses its scientific expertise and resources to address the continuing threat posed by seasonal and pandemic influenza. Key activities that protect people against both seasonal and pandemic influenza include:
- Monitoring influenza viruses – ID works with domestic and global public health partners to monitor both human and animal influenza viruses to know what viruses are spreading, where outbreaks are located, and find out what kinds of illnesses they are causing.
- Supporting vaccine effectiveness – Influenza scientists provide expert consultation on recommendations for which influenza viruses to include in seasonal vaccine production for each year's influenza vaccine.
- CDC develops candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs) that help decrease the time needed to develop new pandemic vaccines.
- Supports external partner studies of influenza vaccines effectiveness in real world conditions.
- CDC develops candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs) that help decrease the time needed to develop new pandemic vaccines.
- Studying influenza viruses in the laboratory – ID studies both human and animal influenza viruses in the laboratory to better understand the characteristics of these viruses, including conducting genetic sequencing on between 4,000 and 7,000 viruses each year.
- Funding and technical assistance – ID provides direct support to state, local, and territorial public health departments for influenza monitoring and laboratory work.
- Improving testing and diagnostic tools – ID develops and distributes tests and supplies materials to public health laboratories so they can detect and characterize influenza viruses.
- Leading influenza planning and pandemic preparedness – ID supports state and local governments in preparing for the next influenza pandemic.
- In the United States, CDC supports the development and use of community-based flu influenza preparedness measures and emergency response activities to help minimize the impact of a flu pandemic.
- In the United States, CDC supports the development and use of community-based flu influenza preparedness measures and emergency response activities to help minimize the impact of a flu pandemic.
- Improving tools to prevent and control influenza – ID evaluates the effectiveness of influenza vaccines and antiviral medications and continuously updates its clinical recommendations and guidance for health care providers and public health professionals. CDC's work to improve vaccine effectiveness is a key part of the U.S. Government's National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy.
- Providing timely and accurate information – ID informs health care providers and the public about influenza prevention and control measures. CDC works with businesses, schools, communities, and others to plan for and address influenza threats.
ID topics include:
