The Infectious Diseases Society of America Emerging Infections Network: Bridging the Gap Between Clinical Infectious Diseases and Public Health

Sentinel surveillance of acute hospitalisations in response to infectious disease emergencies such as the 2009 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic is well described, but recognition of its potential to supplement routine public health surveillance and provide scalability for emergency responses has been limited. We summarise the achievements of two national paediatric hospital surveillance networks relevant to vaccine programmes and emerging infectious diseases in Canada (Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program Active; IMPACT from 1991) and Australia (Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance; PAEDS from 2007) and discuss opportunities and challenges in applying their model to other contexts. Both networks were established to enhance capacity to measure vaccine preventable disease burden, vaccine programme impact, and safety, with their scope occasionally being increased with emerging infectious diseases’ surveillance. Their active surveillance has increased data accuracy and utility for syndromic conditions (e.g. encephalitis), pathogen-specific diseases (e.g. pertussis, rotavirus, influenza), and adverse events following immunisation (e.g. febrile seizure), enabled correlation of biological specimens with clinical context and supported responses to emerging infections (e.g. pandemic influenza, parechovirus, COVID-19). The demonstrated long-term value of continuous, rather than incident-related, operation of these networks in strengthening routine surveillance, bridging research gaps, and providing scalable public health response, supports their applicability to other countries.

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Role of the Medical Examiner in Zika Virus and Other Emerging Infections

Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine ◽

10.5858/arpa.2016-0327-sa ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 141 (1) ◽

pp. 82-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Veena D. Singh ◽

Sarah L. Lathrop

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Zika Virus ◽

Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome ◽

Medical Examiner ◽

Public Health Approach ◽

Emerging Infections ◽

Medical Examiners

Context.—Medical examiners and coroners have long been an integral component of public health, often being the first to recognize and describe emerging infectious diseases. Given their experience and access, medical examiners and coroners will provide valuable contributions to better understanding Zika virus infection and its sequelae. Objective.—To review past examples of medical examiner/coroner involvement in recognition of emerging infectious diseases and describe how medical examiners and coroners will be critical in understanding the pathophysiology of Zika infections. Design.—Review of the existing literature on the role of medical examiners and coroners in the identification of emergent infections and the available literature on Zika virus. Results.—Medical examiners and coroners have played a crucial role in identifying numerous emerging infectious diseases such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and West Nile virus, and have the expertise and experience to aid in elucidating the pathophysiologic effects of Zika virus and tracking its distribution and risk factors. Conclusions.—Medical examiners and coroners will be a significant factor in the unified public health approach needed to mitigate the effects of Zika virus and other, heretofore unrecognized, infectious diseases.

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A Quarter Century of Emerging Infectious Diseases – Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?

Acta Medica Academica ◽

10.5644/ama2006-124.222 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 117

Author(s):

James W. Le Duc ◽

Teresa E. Sorvillo

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽

The United States ◽

International Travel ◽

Emerging Infections ◽

Quarter Century ◽

Public Health Programs ◽

National Public Health ◽

Societal Changes

A quarter century ago the landmark report from the U. S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine entitled “Emerging Infections, Microbial Threats to Health in the United States” was released. This classic study captured the societal changes then underway in our rapidly growing world: The growth of the world’s population and changing human behavior; the advances and globalization of technology and industry; the changes in economic development and land use; the dramatic increase in speed and frequency of international travel and commerce; the adaptation of microbes and the appearance of never before seen pathogens; and the breakdown of traditional public health measures. This societal evolution has only increased and the growing frequency of outbreaks foretold in the report has come to pass. Each new disaster has precipitated changes and adaptations in our global response to infectious diseases designed to reduce risks and avoid future outbreaks. We discuss these past events and how each led to change in an effort to mitigate future threats. We also look to the future to consider what challenges might lay ahead.Conclusion. Major outbreaks over the past quarter century validated the concept of emerging infectious diseases and led to improvements in global policies and national public health programs; however, there will likely always be new diseases and the threat of reemergence of diseases once thought controlled leading to a constant need for vigilance in public health preparedness.

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Research Activities and Responding to Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda): Tohoku-RITM Collaborating Research Center in the Philippines

Journal of Disaster Research ◽

10.20965/jdr.2014.p0823 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 823-827 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mariko Saito ◽

◽

Mayuko Saito ◽

Tadatsugu Imamura ◽

Taro Kamigaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

The Philippines ◽

Research Center ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Emerging Infections ◽

Public Health Perspective ◽

Research Activities

In the six years since the Tohoku-RITM Collaborating Research Center was established, the center has been working on major infectious diseases in the Philippines and conducting molecular and epidemiological studies from a public health perspective. Its target diseases include pneumonia, diarrhea, and rabies, which are a major public health problem in the Philippines. Some studies have also been conducted on emerging and re-emerging infections significantly impacting both on the Philippines and on other countries. In November 2013, typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit the Visayas, where one of our research areas is located. The center responded immediately and helped assess and diagnose infectious diseases, based on our experience of Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.

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Emerging and re-emerging infections

10.1093/med/9780198816805.003.0075 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 269-286

Author(s):

David L. Heymann ◽

Vernon J.M. Lee

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Safety Net ◽

Human Populations ◽

Emerging Infections ◽

Species Barrier ◽

Global Networks ◽

National Public Health ◽

Infrastructure Failure

Emerging infections are newly identified infections in humans—and are most often zoonotic—caused by infectious organisms that breach the species barrier between animals and humans. Re-emerging infections are known organisms that infect humans, but are identified after a period of absence from human populations. Re-emerging infections also often result from breaches in the species barrier. In addition to direct health outcomes of sickness and death, they also affect the economy, and may spread globally. This chapter discusses factors that influence the emergence of infectious diseases including weak public health infrastructure; failure of safety procedures and regulations; population shifts including rapid population increases and uncontrolled urbanization; anthropogenic activities and climate change; civil disturbance, human displacement, and natural disasters; human behaviours; and deliberate use to cause fear and harm. To address these threats, national public health systems must be strengthened to detect and respond to infectious diseases when and where they emerge, or re-emerge; and a safety net of global networks is required if and when the countries in which they emerge or re-emerge are unable to stop their international spread.

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Institute of medicine publishes new report on microbial threats to health

Weekly releases (1997–2007) ◽

10.2807/esw.07.12.02192-en ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

United States ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Health System ◽

21St Century ◽

Public Health System ◽

The United States ◽

Disease Outbreak ◽

Institute Of Medicine ◽

Emerging Infections

“Microbial Threats to health: emergence, detection, and response”, published this week by the Institute of Medicine focuses on the need for renewed commitment faced with the increased impact of infectious diseases in the United States since publication of the landmark report, “Emerging Infections: Microbial Threats to Health in the United States” in 1992. The report’s authors, the Committee on Emerging Microbial Threats to Health in the 21st century, recommend enhanced global capacity for response to infectious diseases and stresses the importance of a robust public health system in responding to any disease outbreak.

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Fusion Protein Targeted Antiviral Peptides: Fragment-Based Drug Design (FBDD) Guided Rational Design of Dipeptides Against SARS-CoV-2

Current Protein and Peptide Science ◽

10.2174/1389203721666200908164641 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (10) ◽

pp. 938-947

Author(s):

Sounik Manna ◽

Trinath Chowdhury ◽

Piyush Baindara ◽

Santi M. Mandal

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Drug Design ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Fusion Protein ◽

Fusion Process ◽

Viral Fusion ◽

Enveloped Viruses ◽

Antiviral Peptides ◽

Target Sites ◽

Tract Infections

: Infectious diseases caused by viruses have become a serious public health issue in the recent past, including the current pandemic situation of COVID-19. Enveloped viruses are most commonly known to cause emerging and recurring infectious diseases. Viral and cell membrane fusion is the major key event in the case of enveloped viruses that is required for their entry into the cell. Viral fusion proteins play an important role in the fusion process and in infection establishment. Because of this, the fusion process targeting antivirals become an interest to fight against viral diseases caused by the enveloped virus. Lower respiratory tract infections casing viruses like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) are examples of such enveloped viruses that are at the top in public health issues. Here, we summarized the viral fusion protein targeted antiviral peptides along with their mechanism and specific design to combat the viral fusion process. The pandemic COVID-19, severe respiratory syndrome disease is an outbreak worldwide. There are no definitive drugs yet, but few are in on-going trials. Here, an approach of fragmentbased drug design (FBDD) methodology is used to identify the broad spectrum agent target to the conserved region of fusion protein of SARS CoV-2. Three dipeptides (DL, LQ and ID) were chosen from the library and designed by the systematic combination along with their possible modifications of amino acids to the target sites. Designed peptides were docked with targeted fusion protein after energy minimization. Results show strong and significant binding affinity (DL = -60.1 kcal/mol; LQ = - 62.8 kcal/mol; ID= -71.5 kcal/mol) during interaction. Anyone of the active peptides from the developed libraries may help to block the target sites competitively to successfully control COVID-19.

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Biosecurity and Public Health Ethics Issues Raised by Biological Threats

The Oxford Handbook of Public Health Ethics ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190245191.013.67 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 773-785

Author(s):

Nicholas Evans ◽

Thomas Inglesby

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Resource Allocation ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽

Biological Weapon ◽

Ethical Values ◽

Dual Use ◽

Health Concerns ◽

Trade Offs

This chapter introduces ethical issues that arise in the context of biosecurity: policies and actions intended to prevent the development or emergence, or mitigate the consequences, of serious biological threats. These threats could include deliberate biological weapon attacks (bioterrorism), pandemics, emerging infectious diseases, or major laboratory accidents. The basic values that underpin these public health concerns are first introduced. Ethical issues that arise before, during, and following a biosecurity crisis are then examined, including issues of resource allocation, dual-use research, and the possibility of quarantine. Their resolution requires trade-offs among different ethical values, including utility, fairness, and liberty.

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Communicable and Other Infectious Diseases

The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Health Law ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190846756.013.48 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Markus Frischhut

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

European Union ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Disease Transmission ◽

Eu Law ◽

The European Union ◽

Ethical Perspective ◽

Health Measures ◽

Environment Agency ◽

And Control

This chapter discusses the most important features of EU law on infectious diseases. Communicable diseases not only cross borders, they also often require measures that cross different areas of policy because of different vectors for disease transmission. The relevant EU law cannot be attributed to one sectoral policy only, and thus various EU agencies participate in protecting public health. The key agency is the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Other important agencies include the European Environment Agency; European Food Safety Authority; and the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency. However, while integration at the EU level has facilitated protection of the public's health, it also has created potential conflicts among the different objectives of the European Union. The internal market promotes the free movement of products, but public health measures can require restrictions of trade. Other conflicts can arise if protective public health measures conflict with individual human rights. The chapter then considers risk assessment and the different tools of risk management used in dealing with the challenges of infectious diseases. It also turns to the external and ethical perspective and the role the European Union takes in global health.

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Ocular manifestations of emerging viral diseases

Eye ◽

10.1038/s41433-020-01376-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ashwin Venkatesh ◽

Ravi Patel ◽

Simran Goyal ◽

Timothy Rajaratnam ◽

Anant Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Influenza A ◽

Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽

Global Scale ◽

Viral Diseases ◽

Valley Fever ◽

Ocular Manifestations ◽

Influenza A H1n1 ◽

Emerging Viral Diseases

AbstractEmerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are an increasing threat to public health on a global scale. In recent times, the most prominent outbreaks have constituted RNA viruses, spreading via droplets (COVID-19 and Influenza A H1N1), directly between humans (Ebola and Marburg), via arthropod vectors (Dengue, Zika, West Nile, Chikungunya, Crimean Congo) and zoonotically (Lassa fever, Nipah, Rift Valley fever, Hantaviruses). However, specific approved antiviral therapies and vaccine availability are scarce, and public health measures remain critical. Patients can present with a spectrum of ocular manifestations. Emerging infectious diseases should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of ocular inflammatory conditions in patients inhabiting or returning from endemic territories, and more general vigilance is advisable in the context of a global pandemic. Eye specialists are in a position to facilitate swift diagnosis, improve clinical outcomes, and contribute to wider public health efforts during outbreaks. This article reviews those emerging viral diseases associated with reports of ocular manifestations and summarizes details pertinent to practicing eye specialists.

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