APACI Influenza Workshop 2021 
The Asia-Pacific Alliance for the Control of Influenza (APACI) in collaboration with the Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy (MSIDC), and in cooperation with the Malaysian Influenza Working Group held a virtual Influenza Workshop on Saturday 20 March 2021.
Conference Objectives
• Review surveillance of influenza in the region
• Consider mechanisms for controlling outbreaks in institutional settings
• Understand the interface between clinicians and laboratory, and the data used for patient management
• Receive updates on best practices for prevention and treatment of influenza
• Review progress in pandemic preparedness and planning
• Highlight new developments in Malaysia
Speakers and Topics
Surveillance & Preparedness
• Siti Aisah (Malaysia) - Surveillance systems & epidemiology of influenza in Malaysia
• Yuelong Shu (China) - Comparison of influenza surveillance systems in Australia, China, Malaysia
• John Tam (Hong Kong) - WHO Pandemic preparedness plans
Influenza vaccination
• Yasmin Gani (Malaysia) - Clinical impact of influenza in Malaysia
• Zamberi Sekawi (Malaysia) - Influenza vaccination advocacy in Malaysia
• Zulkifli Ismail (Malaysia) - Vaccination hesitancy
• Holly Seale (Australia) - Healthcare workers
• Raja Dhar (India) - Influenza & chronic lung disease
• Suchitra Narayan Pandit (India) - Vaccination of pregnant women to protect mother & infant
• Navin Kumar Devaraj - (Malaysia) - Paediatric flu vaccination; individual protection & herd immunity
• Cheah Wee Kooi (Malaysia) - Influenza vaccination for older people
Detection and Treatment of Influenza
• Mary-Louise McLaws (Australia) - Controlling institutional outbreaks
• Jamal I-Ching Sam (Malaysia) - Molecular diagnostics of respiratory viruses in Malaysia
• Gary Grohmann (Australia) - Effectiveness of rapid diagnostics
• David Smith (Australia) - Development of antivirals as treatment for influenza
