Subject: To OCPs for action: Survey on qualitative indicators (deadline June 5) and an update on planned metadata changes
From: "ECDC respiratory viruses" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "ECDC Info" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 27 May 2024 15:48:51 +0300

Tähelepanu! Tegemist on väljastpoolt asutust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu 
saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada.

To:        Operational Contact Points for COVID-19 and Influenza

Cc:        National Focal Points for Viral Respiratory Diseases, National 
Coordinators, Operational Contact Points for SARI

Dear colleagues,

Please find below the suggested updates to the metadata for the upcoming 
2024/2025 season. Most of the proposed additions are minor updates. In 
addition, we are considering additional quantitative indicators for the 
metadata for 2024/2025.  To finalize the proposal for the metadata, we would 
like to collect feedback from countries on the use of qualitative indicator, 
via an online survey : 
<https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/729ab2b0-b334-bb5c-9c51-1f6172e24ebd> 
link  by June 5. We kindly request that you coordinate with colleagues as 
required and make a single survey response for your country by June 5. The 
results will be presented and discussed at the network meeting EU/EEA 
Respiratory Virus Network meeting (12- 14 June) and will inform any 
subsequent proposals for metadata changes.

TESSY metadata updates

RESPISEVERE

*	Add Influenza Type Subtype and RSV type variable to allow countries 
reporting aggregate data to include (sub)type information.

RESPISURV

*	Align Respiratory support variable (RespiSupport) Coded values to align 
better with SARISURV. Adjust description to clarify the reporting of 
 “OXYGEN”. Please see the attachment for further details.

INFLCLIN (Qualitative indicators)

*	We are considering additional qualitative indicators for the metadata for 
2024/2025 to allow qualitative assessment of all pathogens under 
surveillance.  We suggest piloting any additional qualitative indicators 
during the next winter season. To finalize the proposal for the metadata, we 
would like to collect feedback from you, via an online survey: 
<https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/729ab2b0-b334-bb5c-9c51-1f6172e24ebd> 
link by June 5.
*	Further information on updates to Pandemic Influenza Severity Assessment 
(PISA) reporting will follow in the coming months and will be based on 
published guidance.

INFLZOO

*	Two new codes have been added to the variable indicating species of animal 
exposure (AnimalExposure): R for 'cattle' and G for 'goat'. Please find an 
updated version of the reporting protocol for zoonotic influenza viruses 
attached.

Moving to new record types

All countries still reporting INFLVIRWAGGR, NCOVAGGR, NCOVTEST, INFLSARI 
need to switch to reporting the new record types by December 2024. The 
current reporting protocol provides a detailed list of the variables in each 
of the record types: 
<https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Integrated-respiratory-reporting-protocol-v15.pdf> 
Integrated respiratory reporting protocol (europa.eu). Please do not 
hesitate to contact us if you have any questions on reporting to the new 
record types. We can assist you by checking the data in the new format or 
working on a script to translate your data to the current submission format.

Do not hesitate to reach out to us in case you have any questions or 
concerns.

Kind regards,

The ECDC and WHO Europe respiratory virus surveillance teams

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