Enhancing knowledge on influenza and other pandemic threats for healthcare personnel readiness in Thailand, 2007–2024

Healthcare personnel are often the first line of defense against emerging diseases. Enhancing knowledge on influenza for healthcare personnel is part of Thailand’s influenza pandemic preparedness plan. Beginning in 2007, the Thailand Department of Medical Services organized trainings for Thai healthcare personnel in Bangkok and all regions of Thailand on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control of human seasonal, avian, and pandemic influenza. The curriculum included overviews on the global situation, clinical features and treatment, influenza epidemiology and burden in Thailand, influenza as a cause of pneumonia, laboratory diagnostics, impact of influenza in high-risk populations and increased risk for complications; influenza economic evaluation of seasonal influenza vaccination in Thailand, and immunization and planning for human influenza outbreaks. Topics initially focused on seasonal and pandemic influenza and expanded in scope to incorporate other pandemic threats, such as MERS-CoV and COVID-19. From August 2007 through December 2024, 114 trainings were conducted. A total of 26,422 attendees (range 10–700 per training) were trained, including clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, and public health scientists (professionals trained in epidemiology, disease surveillance, and health data analysis) from public and private hospitals from national, regional, provincial, and district levels in Bangkok and 41 provinces nationwide. During training sessions, participants reported that the program increased their readiness and self-reported confidence to respond to potential respiratory outbreaks. These capacity-building efforts contributed to a health workforce that was better positioned to respond to emerging respiratory threats, including the first wave of COVID-19. Educating healthcare personnel about prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control of influenza is an important component of pandemic preparedness. Refresher courses or online tutorials may be needed periodically to maintain current knowledge.