70 years of Global Flu Response - What's Changed?

In 1952, the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, (GISRS for short) was founded. It is hard to believe it but this year it is celebrating a significant milestone; 70 years of successful work as a worldwide network.

The network was founded in order to protect individuals all over the globe from the very real threats that can result from influenza. It also looks at the added value that the network might be able to offer in the cases of threats by other respiratory viruses, including Covid-19.

Operating more than 150 laboratories across 127 counties, GISRS continually monitors influenza viruses through the examination of millions of specimens every year.

Influenza – a Continually Changing Respiratory Virus

When you study for a medical biology degree, one thing that you will quickly learn is that influenza is a respiratory virus that continually changes. This is why each year the flu vaccines that are offered may not be exactly the same as those offered the previous year. There are many different strains of flu and different vaccines have been created, with each one specifically designed to target a particular strain. It is the work of bodies like the World Health Organisation (WHO), in coordination with teams of individuals who have a healthcare management degree to keep a note of these trends and work out which strains are emerging and therefore need targeting.

The statistics surrounding flu are quite staggering, with an estimate of one billion cases of seasonal influenza occurring every year. Of these cases between three to five million are considered to be severe and there are approximately 650,000 global deaths linked to influenza annually. While those with a medical biology degree work tirelessly to identify each new variant, they can often spread quickly and with worrying effects. Most recently they have had to deal with SARS-CoV-2. This is the virus that causes COVID-19.

Some great leaps

During the last 70 years GISRS has been responsible for some significant work:

●     From just 25 countries in 1952, there is now influenza surveillance in place in over 127 territories, areas and countries.

●     By January 2022 there were 148 National Influenza Centres, 7 WHO collaborating centres and a number of H5 reference laboratories. Their operation is continually growing and each place works with others as one global operation.

●     Thousands of samples are shared every year between the members of GISRS, allowing WHO to produce risk assessments on a timely basis and alert countries accordingly. Because of this, appropriate annual seasonal vaccine programmes have been in place since 1973, and biannual ones since 1998 for the northern and southern hemispheres.

Medical Biology Degrees at the University of Bolton – Examining the Future

If the idea of this kind of degree interests you then now is a great time to start considering your options for a place in further education. The right degree choice now can really help to drive your potential career path and open up a number of different roles for the future.

At the University of Bolton, we offer a range of medical biology degrees that can pave the way to a rewarding career with fantastic progression prospects. Our inspiring lecturers and inclusive community can provide you with the perfect setting for gaining the expertise and skills that you need for a rewarding career in the field of medical biology, allowing every student to experience #UniAsItShouldBe.

We are proud to have been voted 1st in the North West of England for both student experience and teaching quality for the second year running* and are proud to offer a range of courses that we’re sure will appeal to those considering a career in healthcare.

If you would like to learn more about the university and our medical biology degrees, we would be delighted to talk to you. Our team of friendly advisors can be contacted at +44 (0)1204 900 600, or if you prefer, why not email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk with your query. If you’d like to look at our range of medical biology degree and healthcare management degree options, click here.