A protective protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance, called an antigen. Antibodies recognise and latch onto antigens in order to remove them from the body. Antibodies are produced by specialised white blood cells called B lymphocytes (or B cells).

Source: antibody, Britannica 

An antiviral is a type of drug specifically designed to treat viral infections. Unlike antibiotics, which treat infections caused by bacteria, antivirals work against specific viruses by interfering with their ability to replicate or function. Antivirals can reduce symptoms and shorten the amount of time you are sick, reduce the risk of developing severe illness, and can also lower your risk of getting or spreading certain viruses. 

Source:  What Is an Antiviral?, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases  (NFID) 

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a contagious viral disease caused by influenza A viruses which primarily infect wild birds and poultry. However, in rare cases, it may also infect humans and mammals. 

Source: Influenza - Avian, Communicable Diseases Agency Singapore

The process of disseminating relevant scientific content, policy updates and health information on respiratory viruses (such as influenza, RSV, SARS-CoV-2 and hMPV) to a broad audience, with the aim of improving awareness, engagement and informed decision-making. It includes activities that combat health misinformation and disinformation; strengthen organisational presence and raise awareness; increase engagement with target audiences; and promote events and other relevant initiatives.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). 

Source: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), WHO 

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global outbreak of coronavirus, an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Cases of novel coronavirus (nCoV) were first detected in China in December 2019, with the virus spreading rapidly to other countries across the world. This led WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020 and to characterise the outbreak as a pandemic on 11 March 2020.

Source: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, WHO 

Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. 

Source: Diabetes, WHO

Diagnostics in respiratory viruses refers to the use of laboratory tests to detect and confirm viral infections in the respiratory tract by identifying viral genetic material, antigens, or other markers in patient samples. 

Source: Testing and Respiratory Viruses, CDC

Epidemiology in respiratory viruses is the scientific study of how respiratory viral infections spread and affect populations, and how that information is used to control and prevent disease 

Source: Glossary, CDC

H5N1 is one of several influenza viruses that causes a highly infectious respiratory disease in birds called avian influenza (or "bird flu"). Infections in mammals, including humans, have also been documented. 

Source: Influenza: A(H5N1), WHO

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a virus that usually causes symptoms similar to a cold. You might cough or wheeze, have a runny nose or a sore throat. Most cases are mild, but young children, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk for serious illness. 

Source: Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV): Symptoms & Treatment

Immunology is the study of the immune system and is a very important branch of the medical and biological sciences. The immune system protects us from infection through various lines of defence. If the immune system is not functioning as it should, it can result in disease, such as autoimmunity, allergy and cancer. It is also now becoming clear that immune responses contribute to the development of many common disorders not traditionally viewed as immunologic, including metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s.

Source: What is immunology?, British Society for Immunology

Seasonal influenza (the flu) is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. It is common in all parts of the world. Most people recover without treatment.  Influenza spreads easily between people when they cough or sneeze. Vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease. Symptoms of influenza include acute onset of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue.

Source: Influenza, WHO

Long COVID is defined as a chronic condition that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months. Long COVID includes a wide range of symptoms or conditions that may improve, worsen or be ongoing.

Source: Long COVID Basics, CDC

Messenger RNA is a type of single-stranded RNA involved in protein synthesis. mRNA is made from a DNA template during the process of transcription. The role of mRNA is to carry protein information from the DNA in a cell’s nucleus to the cell’s cytoplasm (watery interior), where the protein-making machinery reads the mRNA sequence and translates each three-base codon into its corresponding amino acid in a growing protein chain.

Source: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

One Health is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment. It is particularly important to prevent, predict, detect, and respond to global health threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: One Health, WHO

Pandemic preparedness is a continuous process of planning, exercising, revising and translating into action national and sub-national pandemic preparedness and response plans. A pandemic plan is thus a living document which is reviewed regularly and revised if necessary, for example based on the lessons learnt from outbreaks or a pandemic, or from a simulation exercise.

Source: Pandemic preparedness, WHO

A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and spreads around the world, and most people do not have immunity. Viruses that have caused past pandemics typically originated from animal influenza viruses.

Source: Pandemics

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is the practical discipline concerned with preventing health care-associated infection. IPC is an essential part of the health care infrastructure.

Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Public health improves the quality of life, helps children thrive, reduces human suffering and saves money. Every day, the public health field is working to prevent hazards and keep people healthy. What’s the difference between health care and public health? The health care industry treats people who are sick, while public health aims to prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place. Public health also focuses on entire populations, while health care focuses on individual patients.

Source: What is public health? American Public Health Association

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that causes infections of the upper and lower respiratory airways (including the nose, sinuses and lungs). Discovered in 1956, RSV is a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus that belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae. It is classified into 2 subgroups, RSV-A and RSV-B. Both subgroups tend to co-circulate during each season and both can cause severe disease.

Source: Respiratory syncytial virus, WHO

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus that causes the disease known as coronavirus disease 2019. SARS-CoV-2 is in fact only one member of a large group of viruses known as coronaviruses. They are so named for their spiky or crown-like (corona) appearance under the microscope. Viruses within this family are genetically related, albeit distinct, viruses. 

Source: SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM)

Science policy interface emerges when scientific knowledge is effectively incorporated to inform policymaking, enabling policy to act as a catalyst for transformative change. Effective SPI supports informed decision-making, bridges the complex interface of science and policy to strengthen governance.

Source: Science-policy interface, UNEP

Public health surveillance is the continuous, systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of health-related data for action. Disease surveillance data serves as the basis for the detection of potential outbreaks for an early warning system to prevent what could become public health emergencies. It enables monitoring and evaluation of the impact of an intervention, helps track progress towards specified goals and clarifies the epidemiology of health issues.

Source: WHO