The ISRV Epidemiology Group was established at the *Options for the Control of Influenza VIII* conference in Cape Town in September 2013.
The purpose of the ISRV Epidemiology Group is to promote the scientific understanding of how respiratory viruses spread in populations, study the characteristics and consequences of epidemics, and provide practical information on the effectiveness and impact of interventions and control measures to promote public health.
The ISRV Epidemiology Group aims to promote scientific understanding of how respiratory viruses spread in populations, study the characteristics and consequences of epidemics, and provide practical information on the effectiveness and impact of interventions and control measures to promote public health.
The ISRV Epidemiology Group is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge of the transmission dynamics of respiratory viruses within various populations. This group examines the fundamental characteristics of respiratory virus epidemics, including their patterns, clinical impact and severity, and the broader public health implications they pose. In addition, the group analyzes the outcomes of different epidemic situations and strives to understand the factors that contribute to their spread.
The Epidemiology group also involves looking at the impact of various public health interventions, prevention and control measures, and health policy initiatives. By synthesizing this information, the ISRV Epidemiology Group aims to provide practical insights that can aid public health officials, healthcare providers, and the community in effectively managing and mitigating the effects of respiratory virus outbreaks, thereby promoting overall public health and safety.
Epidemiology is the study of the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations.
The scope of the ISRV Epidemiology Group includes:
Estimation and prediction of the effectiveness of interventions and control measures.Key Activities
Key Activities
The ISRV Epidemiology Group, initially known as the ISIRV Epidemiology Group, was founded during the Options for the Control of Influenza VIII conference in Cape Town in September 2013. The first Epidemiology Group Conference, titled ‘Incidence, Severity and Impact of Influenza 2016’, was held at Institut Pasteur in Paris, France from January 21–22, 2016, with over 100 international participants. It was decided to hold regular scientific meetings and to develop the ISRV Epidemiology Group further in collaboration with the ISRV Board. The subsequent meeting, attended by 200 participants from five continents and titled ‘Incidence, Severity and Impact of Influenza’, was jointly organized with ECDC at their new headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. For a summary, please refer to Eurosurveillance. Over the years, the Group has consistently organized scientific panels at ISRV Options conferences, as well as joint ISRV/ESCMID panels at ESCMID Global events, most recently held in Lisbon (2023), Barcelona (2024), and Vienna (2025).
A scientific panel organized by the ISRV Epidemiology Group is currently being planned for the Options Conference in 2026 in Washington, DC. We continue to collaborate and co-organize meetings, panels and webinars and are preparing our next ISRV Epidemiology Group conference for 2027.
Membership is open to all members of ISRV. Members can join the ISRV Epidemiology Group via the members' area of the ISRV website.