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 & 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
