Working groups
Working groups are collaborative mechanisms that bring together members with shared interests or technical priorities to deepen knowledge, support specific projects, and strengthen regional capacity in key areas. Participation is voluntary and active, encouraging the exchange of expertise and the co-development of solutions.
How Do Working Groups Function?
From our foundation to our vision for the future, explore the key milestones in SARInet plus development.
Project Identification
The Secretariat and Advisory Group identify specific projects based on the network’s needs and interests.
Group Formation
Working groups are established and participation is requested from interested members in the project.
Goal Definition
Through the Working groups define their specific objectives and establish the estimated duration of the project.
Our Working Groups
Surveillance
Aims to foster a community of best practices and facilitate the exchange of experiences among countries, focusing on two key components: monitoring trends and epidemiological patterns through routine surveillance to support prevention and control interventions; and conducting surveillance for the early detection and investigation of unusual respiratory events, with an emphasis on timely response.
Pandemic Preparedness
Focused on creating opportunities to share best practices and challenges related to pandemic preparedness due to respiratory pathogens. This group promotes knowledge sharing on strategies to develop national pandemic preparedness and response plans and engagement of multisectoral partners as well as the co-development of simulation exercises adapted to the region.
Laboratory
Focused on strengthening virological surveillance, this group promotes collaboration among laboratories across the Americas, fostering the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices among National Influenza Centers, National Reference Laboratories, and national counterparts. It provides technical support to ensure high-quality data, robust diagnostic capacities, and the timely detection of respiratory pathogens.
Operational Research and Burden of Disease
The group focuses on promoting the exchange of knowledge and experiences to strengthen operational research and the study of the burden of disease of viral respiratory diseases. It fosters regional collaboration and capacity building for the analysis of morbidity and mortality data, improving informed decisions and promoting intersectoral work.
Human-Animal Interface
This group aims to improve zoonotic influenza surveillance and risk assessment using a One Health approach. It focuses on defining practical recommendations to strengthen collaboration across sectors, clarifying key functions within each sector, and exploring successful practices that can serve as models.
Information systems
Dedicated to supporting the development and implementation of technological tools to improve data collection, analysis and dissemination. It promotes a knowledge-sharing community where members share best practices and lessons learned in the use of technologies for epidemiological surveillance.
Risk Communication and Community Engagement
Promotes the exchange of knowledge and best practices among countries to strengthen risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) strategies. It fosters spaces that promote the development of tailored communication plans and engagement frameworks, aimed at empowering communities, building trust, and ensuring transparent and effective communication of health risks.