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Report focuses on sustainability of infectious disease surveillance

Date:
July 17, 2012
Source:
Mercyhurst College
Summary:
Just as the globalization of trade and travel is rapidly evolving, so is the globalization of infectious diseases and the need for cooperative approaches to detect, prevent and control them.
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Just as the globalization of trade and travel is rapidly evolving, so is the globalization of infectious diseases and the need for cooperative approaches to detect, prevent and control them, according to Dr. David Dausey, chair of the Mercyhurst University Public Health Department.

The outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and avian influenza H5N1 in recent years showed how infectious diseases can significantly impact national economies and exposed the need for cooperation in detecting and controlling disease to protect populations and economies.

Such is the rationale behind a newly published paper in Global Health Governance by Dausey and eight co-authors from six different countries. The paper, "Sustainability of Sub-Regional Disease Surveillance Networks," describes the team's research in Southeast Asia to build and sustain sub-regional disease surveillance networks.

The purpose of a surveillance network is to measure the need for intervention, including early warning of emerging events and empower decision makers with timely and reliable information. While effective, surveillance networks face many challenges as they mature, from training to funding.

Using the Mekong Basin Disease Surveillance (MBDS) network as an example, Dausey and his colleagues developed a model to enhance its sustainability, which they hope can be used across the board as a guide in strengthening the sustainability of these networks.

The Mekong Basin area in Asia is considered a "hotspot" for "emerging infectious diseases" (EIDs). More than a decade ago, six Mekong Basin countries organized themselves into a "sub-regional" network to cooperate in border health and public health surveillance for diseases of shared concern.

The paper acknowledges that sub-regional infectious disease surveillance networking is distinct from national, regional, or global surveillance and is an important trend in global public health because such cooperation is organized and governed by member countries and directly addresses their shared priorities.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Mercyhurst College. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Melinda Moore, David J. Dausey, Bounlay Phommasack, Sok Touch, Lu Guoping, Soe Lwin Nyein, Kumnuan Ungchusak, Nguyen Dang Vung, and Moe Ko Oo. Sustainability of Sub-Regional Disease Surveillance Networks. Global Health Governance, 2012 [abstract]

Cite This Page:

Mercyhurst College. "Report focuses on sustainability of infectious disease surveillance." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 July 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120717141005.htm>.
Mercyhurst College. (2012, July 17). Report focuses on sustainability of infectious disease surveillance. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120717141005.htm
Mercyhurst College. "Report focuses on sustainability of infectious disease surveillance." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120717141005.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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