Open AccessEarly epidemiological investigations: World Health Organization UNITY protocols provide a standardized and timely international investigation framework during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Bergeri Isabel,
Lewis Hannah C.,
Subissi Lorenzo,
Nardone Anthony,
Valenciano Marta,
Cheng Brianna,
Glonti Ketevan,
Williams Bridget,
Abejirinde IbukunOluwa Omolade,
Simniceanu Alice,
Cassini Alessandro,
Grant Rebecca,
Rodriguez Angel,
Vicari Andrea,
Al Ariqi Lubna,
Azim Tasnim,
Wijesinghe Pushpa Ranjan,
Rajatonirina Soatiana Cathycia,
Okeibunor Joseph Chukwudi,
Le LinhVi,
Katz Mark,
Vaughan Aisling,
Jorgensen Pernille,
Freidl Gudrun,
Pebody Richard,
Van Kerkhove Maria D.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
influenza and other respiratory viruses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.743
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1750-2659
pISSN - 1750-2640
DOI - 10.1111/irv.12915
Subject(s) - public health , pandemic , preparedness , declaration , transmission (telecommunications) , epidemiology , seroprevalence , population , international health regulations , global health , environmental health , medicine , economic growth , political science , covid-19 , disease , nursing , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , immunology , electrical engineering , serology , economics , antibody , law , engineering
Background The declaration of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020 required rapid implementation of early investigations to inform appropriate national and global public health actions. Methods The suite of existing pandemic preparedness generic epidemiological early investigation protocols was rapidly adapted for COVID‐19, branded the ‘UNITY studies’ and promoted globally for the implementation of standardized and quality studies. Ten protocols were developed investigating household (HH) transmission, the first few cases (FFX), population seroprevalence (SEROPREV), health facilities transmission (n = 2), vaccine effectiveness (n = 2), pregnancy outcomes and transmission, school transmission, and surface contamination. Implementation was supported by WHO and its partners globally, with emphasis to support building surveillance and research capacities in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC). Results WHO generic protocols were rapidly developed and published on the WHO website, 5/10 protocols within the first 3 months of the response. As of 30 June 2021, 172 investigations were implemented by 97 countries, of which 62 (64%) were LMIC. The majority of countries implemented population seroprevalence (71 countries) and first few cases/household transmission (37 countries) studies. Conclusion The widespread adoption of UNITY protocols across all WHO regions indicates that they addressed subnational and national needs to support local public health decision‐making to prevent and control the pandemic.