The Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN) is a network of 30 sites and 150 hospitals in 25+ countries that collect clinical and virological data from patients hospitalized for respiratory syndromes.
It allows to inform circulation and evolution of viruses and burden of disease. Every year, more than 25,000 hospitalized individuals are tested by multiplex PCR. Whole Genome Sequencing is also performed on a subset.
This network, set up 12 years ago, is the largest of its kind and is currently scaling up. A Memorandum of Understanding with WHO was established in 2023 to strengthen collaboration with GISRS.
The GIHSN is supported by a dedicated fund, The Foundation for Influenza Epidemiology, under the Fondation de France umbrella. Foundation provides catalytic funding complementary to national and other sources of funding.
Not-for-profit institutions with proposals aligned with the GIHSN mission are eligible to apply for partial funding through an annual Call for proposals (next call to be launched in May 2025 for the 2025-2026 season).
The GIHSN platform is operated by Impact Healthcare, an independent organization based in Paris, France.
