Scenario Exercise for the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan Project Held in Beijing

On 5 September 2025, the Chinese National Influenza Center (CNIC) of the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), held in Beijing a scenario exercise under the World Health Organization collaborative project “Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan (Laboratory Technology Stockpiling and Upgrading).” Core members from National Influenza Surveillance Network laboratories in provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across the country took part in the exercise.

 

The opening session was chaired by Researcher Wang Dayan, Director of the CNIC, who presented on strengthening preparedness for an influenza pandemic. Researcher Zhu Wenfei introduced influenza virus variation monitoring and pandemic risk assessment. Zhang Xingxing outlined the content of the influenza pandemic exercise and the division of tasks. Participants then carried out group exercises focusing on two topics: designing a laboratory response plan for an influenza pandemic and applying a laboratory self-assessment checklist for pandemic preparedness. Zhao Xiang provided comments on the group work and delivered a summary of the exercise.

 

The scenario exercise helped to raise awareness and understanding of pandemic influenza and enhanced the capacity of the influenza surveillance network laboratories to respond to pandemic influenza.