1. Laboratory capacity at National Influenza Centers by SEARO member country, 2011 CountryPCR Virus isolation Antiviral testingSequencingSerology (HI) BangladeshYesNo No (study at ICDDR,B) No IndonesiaYes Yes from sequencingYes NepalYesNo North KoreaYesNo MyanmarYes No No (used to do it) Sri LankaYes No Yes (but not doing it) ThailandYes

2. Influenza surveillance activities in SEARO member countries, 2011 CountryILISARIComments/other surveillance Bangladesh26 sites Community-based surveillance Indonesia24 sites10 sites Nepal12 sites Only collect samples when epi says there is an outbreak; 40 epi sites with no lab data North KoreaNone Integrated surveillance in 2 provinces MyanmarNone Only outbreak driven, not routine surveillance Gets samples from chest physician in Yangoon during flu season Random samples 1-3/month from hospitals Sri Lanka20 sites3 siteAlso accept samples from other hospitals Thailand11 sites3 sites13 Bureau of epi surveillance site; hospitalized pneumonia surveillance

3. Summary of Challenges Shipping, transport of specimens – In country is biggest challenge – If possible, PCR kits should be door -to-door (not airport to airport) Epi-lab integration Case definitions – standardizing, harmonizing Improvement of subnational laboratories Trainings – information on regional trainings, send the appropriate people, return and start working on it Lab accreditation