1.
WHO
WGS Activities

2.
WHO Approach
• Developing technical guidance
• Capacity building: WGS as part of systems
strengthening for FBD surveillance and
outbreak response
– Building on IHR core capacities
– Joined up capacity building (no silos)
– Leveraging opportunities e.g. AMR
• Facilitating discussion: Creating opportunities
for developing countries to take part in global
data sharing discussions

3.
Technical Guidance
Aim: To support countries utilize WGS to strengthen
FBD surveillance
• Horizon scanning paper (end 2016)
– WHO CCs and Partners
• Practical Guidance: Country road map for
implementing WGS
– Expert meeting (October/November 2017)
• Inclusion of WGS in the FBD surveillance manual
and the update of the integrated surveillance of
AMR guidance
• WHOCC to provide proficiency testing for WGS

4.
Countries
starting to use
WGS as a tool
for FBD
surveillance
and outbreak
response
WGS routinely
used for
surveillance
along the
food chain

5.
Capacity building
Aim: supporting countries to build sustainable FBD
surveillance
• Based on national plans for building surveillance
– WGS training courses (first course March 2016)
– Mentoring programs
• Next steps
– Developing modules for:
• countries at different levels of development
• Epidemiologists
• Biostatics capacity development
• Pilot project
– FDA WHO joint project in Argentina (ongoing)

6.
Facilitating discussion
Aim: Opportunities for developing countries to
take part in global discussions
• INFOSAN Meeting October 2016
– To discuss the uptake, use and challenges of new
or important technologies in the work of INFOSAN
members in managing food safety events of an
international nature