Why it's a bit surprising that the U.S. is attending a key global flu meeting

"Each day, they pore over reams of data about how the virus is evolving worldwide, how well last year's shot performed, and which strains might be easiest to mass produce for a vaccine. The meeting, convened by the World Health Organization twice a year, is a critical moment for the WHO's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System."

"CDC representatives will take part in the meeting to support international technical collaboration. Their participation will solely focus on providing technical expertise, sharing surveillance data, and contributing to scientific discussions that inform vaccine strain recommendations. This participation does not change the U.S. position on withdrawing from the WHO."

"I think it speaks to the irreplaceable nature of these multi-country networks. The Trump administration may bluster and say, 'We' [regarding the importance of international collaboration despite political tensions]."

The World Health Organization holds biannual meetings where approximately 50 influenza scientists from around the world gather to determine which flu virus strains should be included in vaccines for the upcoming season. These meetings involve intensive analysis of surveillance data on how the virus is evolving globally, evaluation of previous vaccine effectiveness, and assessment of which strains can be efficiently mass-produced. The process is critical for the WHO's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. Despite the U.S. withdrawing from the WHO in January, the CDC confirmed it would continue participating in these meetings virtually, providing technical expertise and surveillance data while maintaining focus on scientific collaboration for vaccine recommendations.

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