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Bilevel Optimization Model for the Development of Real-Time Strategies to Minimize Epidemic Spreading Risk in Air Traffic Networks
From the Document: "An understanding is needed of how epidemics spread to new regions via the global air traffic network so that effective strategies for outbreak control can be developed. Various studies have focused on predicting epidemic spread via the complex air traffic network. However, there is a gap in the literature demanding real-time predictive models that exploit the heterogeneous nature of the air travel pattern to optimize decision making among a set of potential control strategies. A bilevel optimization model is proposed to solve the resource allocation problem for an ongoing epidemic spreading via the air traffic network. The upper-level objective is to optimize the distribution of limited resources for epidemic control, and the lower-level simulation model computes the risk posed to the network under possible scenarios. Results from a demonstration network highlight the advantages of this model. A case study evaluates the risk posed by Ebola to the United States through the domestic air traffic network. The results demonstrate the ability of the model to develop real-time strategies that account for the heterogeneous nature of the air traffic network and the complex dynamics of epidemic spread."
Sage Publications
Chen, Nathan; Gardner, Lauren Marie; Rey, David
2016
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Global Health Risk Framework: Resilient and Sustainable Health Systems to Respond to Global Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Workshop Summary
"Since the 2014 Ebola outbreak many public- and private-sector leaders have seen a need for improved management of global public health emergencies. The effects of the Ebola epidemic go well beyond the three hardest-hit countries and beyond the health sector. Education, child protection, commerce, transportation, and human rights have all suffered. The consequences and lethality of Ebola have increased interest in coordinated global response to infectious threats, many of which could disrupt global health and commerce far more than the recent outbreak. In order to explore the potential for improving international management and response to outbreaks the National Academy of Medicine agreed to manage an international, independent, evidence-based, authoritative, multistakeholder expert commission. As part of this effort, the Institute of Medicine convened four workshops in summer of 2015 to inform the commission report. The presentations and discussions from the Workshop on Resilient and Sustainable Health Systems to Respond to Global Infectious Disease Outbreaks are summarized in this report."
National Academies Press (U.S.)
Nicholson, Anna; Snair, Megan Reeve; Hermann, Jack
2016
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Emerging Animal Diseases: Actions Needed to Better Position USDA to Address Future Risks, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives
"Pork is consumed more than any other meat worldwide, and there are numerous other products made with ingredients from pigs, including medical products, such as insulin to treat diabetes. The United States is the world's third-largest producer of pork products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that U.S. pork exports in 2014 were valued at over $6 billion. Two lethal, highly contagious diseases in pigs emerged in the United States in 2013 and 2014, causing the deaths of millions of pigs. The two emerging diseases are collectively known as Swine Enteric Coronavirus Diseases (SECD). The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review federal actions to address SECD outbreaks. This report examines (1) the initial response to the SECD outbreaks, (2) USDA's subsequent actions to manage SECD, and (3) steps USDA has taken to improve its future response to emerging animal diseases. GAO analyzed USDA efforts to collect data about the number and location of infected herds; reviewed federal regulations and USDA animal disease response guidance; and interviewed USDA, state, and industry stakeholders involved in the response and control efforts. GAO recommends that USDA develop a process to help ensure its guidance for investigation of animal diseases is followed and clarify and document how it will respond to emerging diseases, including defining roles and responsibilities . USDA generally agreed with GAO's recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-12-15
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Fear, Politics, and Ebola: How Quarantines Hurt the Fight Against Ebola and Violate the Constitution
"A multitude of expert panels have been convened over the past year to draw lessons learned from the manifold global failures to respond to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Yet comparatively little attention has been paid to the widespread failure in the United States--which did not experience an epidemic--to appropriately manage public anxiety and support people returning from the affected region. This report is a critical first step of an overdue national reckoning. [...] The report correctly places responsibility for the ensuing panic squarely at the feet of our nation's political leaders. Through sheer or willful ignorance, or simple political expediency, many governors enacted quarantine measures and other restrictive policies that not only misled the public, but threatened to actually undermine--rather than protect--public health both at home and in Ebola-affected countries. Our leaders were enabled by a fear-mongering mass media that also ignored established medical science, further stoking panic and compounding an already immense public disservice."
American Civil Liberties Union; Yale Law School. Global Health Justice Partnership
Abdo, Alexander; Bhandari, Esha; Stanley, Jay . . .
2015-12
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Anticipating Emerging Infectious Disease Epidemics
From the Background: "Having the ability to anticipate epidemic-prone emerging infectious diseases will give us the necessary edge to battle outbreaks which are becoming more frequent. This foresight, if reliable, is central to global health security and provides the tools and strategies to reduce avoidable loss of life, minimize illness and suffering, and reduce harm to national and global economies. With the rapid evolution of technology, know-how, and an increasing appreciation of the interconnectedness of everyone on the planet, on 1 and 2 December 2015, the World Health Organization convened some of the world's most eminent scientists, experts and practitioners to identify a path forward to better, more accurately and systematically predict epidemics and thereby meaningfully strengthen global and national readiness to address these emerging infectious disease threats. The informal consultation on anticipating epidemics was the first step in an intensified initiative to better predict and be ready to respond to epidemics. It aimed to (1) create a forum for discussion by bringing together multi-disciplinary experts in a forward-thinking exercise on how to better anticipate and prepare for epidemics; (2) engage with a wide range of expertise and experience in order to shape international collaboration to tackle future infectious risks; and (3) identify approaches to improve detection, early analysis and interpretation of factors that drive emergence and amplification of infectious disease epidemics."
World Health Organization
2015-12
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Effective Public Health Communication in an Interconnected World: Enhancing Resilience to Health Crises
From the Introduction: "The public health communication community has more tools and mechanisms at its disposal than ever before, but we are also facing increasingly complex public health challenges ushered in by globalization, urbanization, conflict, and connective technologies. We are connected in unprecedented ways, but despite this fact there remains a lack of consistent and coherent communication among responders, within health systems and across the public domain. In light of this persistent problem, KYNE and News Deeply, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, convened a meeting on Effective Public Health Communication in an Interconnected World: Enhancing Resilience to Health Crises, held at the Bellagio Center in Bellagio, Italy, in October 2015. At the convening, 18 experts in communication, public health, and emergency response came together to detail areas of alignment and gaps. This report seeks to distill those lessons learned and contribute to the research base on public health communication in times of crisis, by detailing key takeaways from the convening."
Evoke Kyne; News Deeply; Rockefeller Foundation
Thomas, Kate; Setrakian, Lara
2015-10-23
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Vaccine Hesitancy Among Healthcare Workers and Their Patients in Europe: A Qualitative Study
From the Aim: "The aim of this research project is to have a better understanding of vaccine hesitancy and safety concerns among healthcare vaccine providers and their patients in Europe and to explore the link and potential influence between the two groups. The following research objectives were defined: [1] Improve our understanding of vaccine hesitancy among healthcare vaccine providers in Europe: shed light on their doubts and concerns over vaccine safety and the reasons behind these doubts. [2] Identify reasons for patient vaccine hesitancy in Europe and investigate how healthcare professionals respond to hesitant patients."
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Larson, Heidi; Karafillakis, Emilie; Antoniadou, Eleni . . .
2015-10
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Pandemic Influenza Planning: Information for Georgia Public School Districts
From the Introduction: "This manual was prepared by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) with support and guidance from the Georgia Division of Public Health (GDPH) and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to assist local school administrators and staff in developing pandemic influenza plans for their respective school districts. Public health authorities conclude the probability of an influenza pandemic has increased markedly in recent years. [...] This document includes information about on-line training sessions from the Federal Emergency Management Agency called the National Incident Management System (NIMS). NIMS developed on-line training sessions for school administrators and other school staff, as well sessions on basic Incident Command Center operations. The framework of any emergency plan, including pandemic influenza planning, should include the operational principles detailed in the NIMS training sessions. This document includes specific considerations and samples to consider when developing a pandemic plan: prevention and education; access control; surveillance and screening; infection control and precautions; communication methods for staff, parents, and community; school activities and operations; local and state responsibilities; recovery and resources."
Georgia. Department of Education
Woods, Richard
2015-10?
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Portable Ambulance Decontamination Systems Market Survey Report
From the Document: "Portable ambulance decontamination systems are used by emergency medical services (EMS), fire departments, and private ambulance providers to disinfect ambulance cabins. To provide emergency responders with information on portable ambulance decontamination systems, the System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) Program conducted a market survey. [...] The use of portable ambulance decontamination systems may be most helpful following the transport of a patient with a virus or bacteria that is highly contagious and/or life threatening, as well as resistant to antimicrobial products. Common microorganisms of concern include Clostridium difficile bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), tuberculosis (TB), and Hepatitis B and C, among others."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate; System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER)
2015-09
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NJDOH Pandemic Influenza Plan
"The purpose of the Plan is to: [1] Describe the role of NJDOH in response to an influenza pandemic affecting NJ [2] Minimize morbidity and mortality potentially resulting from an influenza pandemic [3] Coordinate internal NJDOH response activities [4] Provide guidance and information to Local Information Network and Communications System (LINCS) agencies, Local Health Departments (LHDs), and healthcare partners and other stakeholders in the development of their own influenza pandemic plans[.]"
New Jersey. Department of Health and Senior Services
2015-09
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Infection Prevention and You: Herd Immunity
From the Document: "Herd immunity (or community immunity) occurs when a high percentage of the community is immune to a disease (through vaccination and/or prior illness), making the spread of this disease from person to person unlikely. Even individuals not vaccinated (such as newborns and the immunocompromised) are offered some protection because the disease has little opportunity to spread within the community. Vaccines prevent many dangerous and deadly diseases. In the United States, smallpox and polio have both been stamped out because of vaccination. However, there are certain groups of people who cannot get vaccinated and are vulnerable to disease: babies, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people, such as those receiving chemotherapy or organ transplants. For example, the earliest a baby can receive their first pertussis or whooping cough vaccine is at two months, and the earliest a child can receive their first measles vaccine is at one year, making them vulnerable to these diseases. Herd immunity protects the most vulnerable members of our population."
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
2015-08-25
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Ebola Virus Disease Ethical Decision Making Framework
From the Preamble: "Since the fall of 2014, British Columbia (B.C.) has undertaken significant preparedness efforts to ensure it is prepared for any person who may be infected with the Ebola virus in the province. A complete range of evidence-informed guidance for this serious communicable disease has been collaboratively developed with health system partners, from identification of illness, through to treatment and care, to discharge or burial. Provincial policies and guidelines have been developed by inter-disciplinary, expert groups and recommended for approval by the B.C. Ebola Preparedness Task Force. This will ensure the best outcome for the patient, their family and the community, and ensure a safe environment for healthcare workers. [...] The framework identifies a series of core values for decision making, and includes a practical, decision-making tool to support the systematic analysis and articulation of complex decisions and outcomes. The document provides a framework for making ethically justified and transparent decisions concerning policies and guidelines related to Ebola virus disease (EVD) in B.C., both at the provincial level and in the clinical context."
British Columbia
2015-08-24
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Provincial Ebola Virus Disease Report on the Action Review
From the Executive Summary: "The 2014/2015 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic is the largest in history, affecting a number of countries in West Africa. Nosocomial transmissions of the Ebola virus in Western hospitals were a wake-up call for the B.C. [British Columbia] health system. Building on the province's experiences in managing the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the pandemic influenza outbreak in 2009, the B.C. Ministry of Health (MoH) and its partners undertook an extensive Ebola preparedness strategy. In the fall of 2014, the B.C. MoH formed a Provincial Ebola Task Force, which includes a number of working groups to make sure that the provincial health system is prepared in the unlikely event of a case of EVD in B.C. A significant amount of work has gone into the development of a suite of Ebola-specific policies, guidelines and algorithms that provide guidance across the full continuum of patient screening and care. B.C. is fortunate in having a strong foundation for this work."
British Columbia
2015-08-24
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Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Inactivated or Recombinant): 'What You Need to Know'
From the Document: "Influenza ('flu') is a contagious disease that spreads around the United States every year, usually between October and May. Flu is caused by influenza viruses, and is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Anyone can get flu. Flu strikes suddenly and can last several days. [...] Flu can also lead to pneumonia and blood infections, and cause diarrhea and seizures in children. If you have a medical condition, such as heart or lung disease, flu can make it worse."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2015-08-07
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Pandemic Impacts to Lifeline Critical Infrastructure
From the Scope: "The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis (DHS/OCIA) produces Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Notes in response to changes in the infrastructure protection community's risk environment from terrorist attacks, natural hazards, and other events. This note examines the impact of a pandemic on lifeline critical infrastructure at the local, regional and national level, including the effects of absenteeism on these sectors. This note also reviews the potential economic impacts resulting from a pandemic and procedures for mitigating the impact of a pandemic. This note supports DHS leadership, the DHS Protective Security Advisors, and other Federal, State, and local agencies. This product was developed in coordination with the DHS Office of Health Affairs, the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate's Office of Infrastructure Protection, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Energy (DOE)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2015-07-30
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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV): World Health Organization Responses [July 2, 2015]
"In September 2012, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV) was first identified in Saudi Arabia and has spread to more than one dozen countries (Figure 1). MERSCoV is an infectious respiratory disease that can be fatal. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for the disease, but the treatment of symptoms, which can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, may improve patient outcomes. Over 1,300 cases have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2012. Roughly 36% of reported cases have resulted in deaths. On May 20, 2015, a MERSCoV outbreak began in the Republic of South Korea (ROK). As of June 30, 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) has associated 182 cases (including one in China and one in Thailand) with this outbreak, including 33 deaths."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
2015-07-02
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Role of Superspreading in Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Transmission
From the Document: "As at 15 June 2015, a large transmission cluster of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV) was ongoing in South Korea. To examine the potential for such events, we estimated the level of heterogeneity in MERS-CoV transmission by analysing data on cluster size distributions. We found substantial potential for superspreading; even though it is likely that R0 < 1 overall, our analysis indicates that cluster sizes of over 150 cases are not unexpected for MERS-CoV infection."
Eurosurveillance
Kucharski, Adam (Mathematician); Althaus, Christian L.
2015-06-25
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Bayesian Closed Point of Dispensing Planning Model
"The goal of this thesis is to assist a local public health department to plan for a mass medication closed Point of Dispensing (POD) in a large casino. The objective is to identify the best resource allocation for the stations in the POD in order to maximize the throughput considering uncertainty. The major unknown and uncertain factor affecting this critical decision is the traffic intensity. A Bayesian decision model is constructed to plan this closed POD site. […] The results show that the best resource allocation scenario is to allocate 6 nurses to the triage station, 9 casino staff to the registration station, 9 casino staff to the screening station and 12 nurses to the dispensing station. The ultimate goal of taking 3 minutes to process each person in the POD could not be achieved. In the recommended resource allocation scenario the minimum expected time per person is 4 minutes. In conclusion, the Bayesian decision analysis approaches used in this research can assist public health departments with determining the best resource allocation in POD stations. The models will also provide decision makers with insight about the traffic intensity of the system given the limited data available."
North Carolina State University
Aly, Heba Mohamad
2015-05-08
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Short Term Fixes, Long Term Consequences: Vaccines, Viruses, and Dollars [video]
From the Video Description: "On April 28, 2015, Big Cities Health Coalition leaders from four major metropolitan health departments that have tackled measles, Ebola, and other public health emergencies shared their experiences and highlighted what needs to be done at the federal level to adequately prepare for current and future crises. This was a Big Cities Health Coalition briefing, hosted by U.S. Representative Tom Price (R-IL) and U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA)." The duration of the video is 59 minutes and 56 seconds.
National Association of County & City Health Officials (U.S.)
2015-05-01
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Recommendations for Isolation Precaution Step Down and Discharge of Persons Under Investigation or Confirmed Ebola Virus Disease Patients
From the Preamble: "After someone who has been under investigation for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is determined not to be infectious, or after someone recovering from confirmed EVD is determined to no longer pose a risk to others, significant anxiety (both patient and societal) may occur regarding the patient's ability to infect others in the community. Therefore, the 'standing down' of isolation precautions, as well as preparation for discharge, requires an organized, systematic and evidence-based approach to ensure the patient, family and health care workers are protected at all times. The purpose of this document is to provide recommendations for two situations: a) In the case of a person under investigation - procedure for ruling out EVD and discharging the patient to the community; and b) In the case of a confirmed EVD patient who is recovering in hospital and determined to no longer pose a risk to others - procedures for standing down the strict isolation precautions, transferring the patient to another part of the hospital, or discharging the patient to the community."
British Columbia
2015-04-22
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Whom Do You Trust? Doubt and Conspiracy Theories in the 2009 Influenza Pandemic
From the Abstract: "The 2009 pandemic of H1N1 influenza led people around the globe to create narratives about the epidemic defined by the question of trust; these narratives ranged from true conspiracy theories to simply accounts in which mistrust and betrayal formed a motif. In particular, most of these narratives reflected a fear of capitalism and globalization, although in specific regions, other issues--such as religion--played a more central role. These stories were not unique to the H1N1 pandemic but rather have appeared with every contemporary outbreak of infectious disease. This paper will examine conspiracy theories and moral panics related to the H1N1 pandemic in different world regions to explore how the disease became associated with economic and social systems in these accounts."
Portland State University
Smallman, Shawn C.
2015-04
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Leadership in Times of Crisis: A Toolkit for Economic Recovery and Resiliency
From the Overview: "Economic developers serve as a vital bridge between the business community and the greater economic interests in the communities they serve. Many local, regional, and state governments turn to their publicly or privately funded economic development organizations and chambers of commerce (referred to throughout this toolkit as 'EDOs') to be the economic leaders, 'deal makers,' and visionaries for attracting new investment and supporting existing businesses. In these roles, EDOs sometimes find themselves unexpectedly called to action when there is a natural or manmade disaster and businesses are suddenly impacted. In such instances, economic developers often find that so much of the hard work they have contributed to grow their economies can be reversed."
International Economic Development Council
2015-03
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B.C. Ebola Virus Disease Transportation Policy
From the Purpose: "The purpose of this policy is to describe the approach to the transportation of a person under investigation for or a confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patient within British Columbia. Due to the size and geographic complexity of the province and the inherent challenges associated with planning for the management and transportation of an EVD case, it is necessary to ensure that any transportation plan can safely and effectively manage the movement of EVD patients from anywhere within the province."
British Columbia
2015-02-27
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Recommendations for Environmental Services, Biohazardous Waste Management, and Food and Linen Management for Persons Under Investigation and Confirmed Cases of Ebola Virus Disease: Standard Operating Procedures
From the Introduction: "While the probability of a person with Ebola virus disease (EVD) in British Columbia is low, preparedness to ensure health care workers can safely and effectively care for patients is essential. Preparedness relies on clear clinical processes, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) supply and deployment, and appropriate training for staff in the processes and equipment. [...] This document lists the standard operating procedures (SOPs) - steps, principles, responsibility and materials required - for environmental services staff and to follow when performing cleaning and waste removal during/following treatment of persons under investigation (PUI) and confirmed cases of EVD. It has been developed by environmental services and infection control experts and should be read in conjunction with the 'Recommendations for Environmental Services, Biohazardous Waste Management, and Food and Linen Management for Persons under Investigation and Confirmed Cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)' document."
British Columbia
2015-02-12
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B.C. Guidance on Environmental Management of Potential Ebola Contamination in Community Settings
From the Introduction: "This document is to provide guidance to public health authorities and contractors for environmental management in the event a person under investigation for, or a confirmed case of, Ebola virus disease (EVD) is symptomatic while in the community (home or public space) or primary health care settings (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2014). This document does not address hospital settings."
British Columbia
2015-02-02
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Best Practices in Ranking Emerging Infectious Disease Threats: A Literature Review
"The threat of serious, cross-border infectious disease outbreaks in Europe is a significant challenge in terms of emergency preparedness. Types of threats and the pathogens involved shift in response to changing factors such as climate change, global travel, immigration patterns, environmental degradation, and social inequalities. In order to effectively target the use of resources to manage the risks of outbreak, it is necessary to formulate rankings or prioritisation of human and/or animal pathogens."
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
2015-02
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, January 30, 2015
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This issue of MMWR contains the following: "Outbreaks of Unexplained Neurologic Illness -- Muzaffarpur, India, 2013-2014"; "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Among Children Aged 7-9 Years -- Arizona, Colorado, and New York, 2010"; "Tickborne Relapsing Fever -- United States, 1990-2011"; "Update on the Epidemiology of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Infection, and Guidance for the Public, Clinicians, and Public Health Authorities -- January 2015"; "Public Health Response to Commercial Airline Travel of a Person with Ebola Virus Infection -- United States, 2014"; "Effectiveness of Ebola Treatment Units and Community Care Centers -- Liberia, September 23-October 31, 2014"; "A Plan for Community Event-Based Surveillance to Reduce Ebola Transmission -- Sierra Leone, 2014-2015"; "Notes from the Field: Identification of a Taenia Tapeworm Carrier -- Los Angeles County, 2014"; "Notice to Readers: Changes in the Presentation of Infectious Disease Data in the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System -- January 2015"; and "QuickStats: Suicide Rates, by Mechanism of Injury -- National Vital Statistics System, United States, 1999-2013". Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2015.html]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2015-01-30
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Emerging Viral Diseases: The One Health Connection: Workshop Summary
From the Description on The National Academies Press website: "In the past half century, deadly disease outbreaks caused by novel viruses of animal origin - Nipah virus in Malaysia, Hendra virus in Australia, Hantavirus in the United States, Ebola virus in Africa, along with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), several influenza subtypes, and the SARS (sudden acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) coronaviruses - have underscored the urgency of understanding factors influencing viral disease emergence and spread. 'Emerging Viral Diseases' is the summary of a public workshop hosted in March 2014 to examine factors driving the appearance, establishment, and spread of emerging, re-emerging and novel viral diseases; the global health and economic impacts of recently emerging and novel viral diseases in humans; and the scientific and policy approaches to improving domestic and international capacity to detect and respond to global outbreaks of infectious disease. This report is a record of the presentations and discussion of the event."
National Academies Press (U.S.)
Choffnes, Eileen R.; Mack, Alison
2015
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Serious Infectious Disease: Challenges for Security and Defence
From the 'About the Event' section on the Royal United Services Institute website: "Conflict and post-conflict zones create particular challenges for controlling and containing infectious disease. Damage to hospitals, the degradation of healthcare infrastructure, and the loss of skilled medical personnel during conflict creates an environment in which infectious disease can emerge and spread rapidly, while failed states and those still struggling to recover from recent conflict are ill-equipped to provide healthcare systems that meet the complex needs of their populations. In addition, peacekeeping and stabilisation forces, NGOs [non-governmental organizations] and international aid workers can inadvertently bring infectious diseases into communities when they are at their most vulnerable. […] In Syria, polio re-emerged and spread during a conflict that has disrupted the childhood vaccination programme. The strain responsible originates from Pakistan, where polio remains endemic in large part due to Taliban opposition to vaccination programmes. In West Africa, ebola spread rapidly through communities with little if any modern healthcare provision and a deep mistrust of government agencies following devastating civil wars. This conference, sponsored by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), will look at the cases outlined above with a view to identifying salient features and factors which are of a more general relevance. It will bring together a multidisciplinary audience to discuss future research requirements that will help to predict, mitigate and contain future outbreaks of serious infectious disease and ways to strengthen surveillance and response in regions where healthcare infrastructure is weak or damaged."
Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies; Science and Technology Facilities Council (Great Britain)
2015
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Handbook for the Management of Public Health Events in Air Transport: Updated with Information on Ebola Virus Disease and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
From the Executive Summary: "[T]his document draws on the scientific literature to provide substantive public health guidance on public health events related to air transport. It is not intended to be a technical, operational guideline. However, it will support the development of national or site-specific operational guidelines and standard operating procedures, as well as support other air transport initiatives and those developed by the aviation sector. This version also includes technical documents and lessons learned during the 2014-2015 outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus (MERS-CoV)."
World Health Organization
2015
