ECDC and CNRL role
ECDC role
Surveillance tasks of ECDC according to Regulation 851/2004/EC) of the European Parliament and of the Council are:
- To collect, collate, validate, analyse and disseminate relevant data at EU level
- To operate the dedicated surveillance networks
- To maintain the database(s) for epidemiological surveillance
- To develop the statistical element of data collection with MS
- To develop sufficient capacity to detect, characterise infectious agents and encourage collaboration between laboratories
- To develop procedures to facilitate consultation, data transmission and access with the MS and the Commission
- To evaluate prevention and control measures at EU level
- To closely cooperate with the organisations operating in the field of data collection
Since September 2008 the coordination of the European Influenza surveillance network (EISS) has been transferred to ECDC. It is assisted in its task by a Coordination Group of experts from the network. Read more about the history of EISS
CNRL role
The Community Network of Reference Laboratories for Human Influenza in Europe (CNRL) has its roots in a collaborative effort to perform influenza surveillance through sentinel networks, which started in 1996 with seven European countries. Over the years, the collaboration was further intensified leading to the creation of the CNRL.
The CNRL currently includes the reference laboratories for influenza from all European Union Member States and Norway.
The CNRL is closely associated with the WHO through its network of National Influenza Centres (NICs) and collaboration with the WHO-Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Mill Hill, London.
From September 2008, ECDC is responsible for the coordination of the CNRL. The coordination activity was outsourced through an open call for tender to a consortium led by the Health Protection Agency in London.