Henry Walke , MD , MPH It comes down to early detection , characterizing the threat , mitigating the impact , and protecting those at greatest risk from severe outcomes .”
( CREID ). The global network conducts multidisciplinary investigations into how and where viruses and other pathogens emerge from wildlife and spillover to cause disease in people . NIAID says it intends to provide approximately $ 82 million over five years to support the network .
Each Center in the network involves collaborations with peer institutions in the United States and 28 other countries . Research projects will include surveillance studies to identify previously unknown causes of febrile illnesses in humans ; find the animal sources of viral or other disease-causing pathogens ; and determine what genetic or other changes make these pathogens capable of infecting humans . Additionally , CREID investigators will develop reagents and diagnostic assays to improve detection of emerging pathogens and study human immune responses to new or emerging infectious agents . Overall , the breadth of research projects in the CREID network will allow for study of disease spillover in multiple phases of the process : where pathogens first emerge from an animal host ; at the borders between wild and more populated areas , where human-to-human transmission occurs ; and , finally , in urban areas , where epidemic spread can occur .
Each Center focuses on one or more regions of the world . In Central and South America , for example , studies will include investigations of several arthropod-borne viruses ( arboviruses ) including the ones that cause Zika virus disease , chikungunya and dengue . In East and Central Africa , focus pathogens will include Rift Valley fever virus and the coronavirus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome . In West Africa , in addition to arboviruses , projects are slated on Ebola virus and Lassa virus . In Asia and Southeast Asia , investigators will conduct research on coronaviruses and arboviruses . In every region , investigators will be poised to study any newly emerging pathogen , dubbed “ Pathogen X .”
Over at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ), the agency says it is expanding its systems following the COVID-19 pandemic . In a presentation at the annual IDWeek conference this fall , Henry Walke , MD , MPH , director of the Office of Readiness and Response ( ORR ), explained how the CDC is preparing for Disease X by “ embracing an era of advanced and modernized technology , and also underscoring our role as a response agency in taking a comprehensive approach to tracking emerging pathogens and being ready to respond .”
Walke explained that the U . S . government ’ s national biodefense strategy , released about a year ago , lays out threats in three categories .
“ The first is when we think of threats in the public health world , we think of naturally occurring biological threats , emerging viruses resulting from interconnections among people and animals as well as plants and the environment . Biological threats are also a concern . For example , a laboratory accident , as laboratories around the world are conducting high-risk life sciences research . So then , of course , there ’ s always the possibility of a deliberate biological threat , the use of biological weapons , or their proliferation by state and no- state actors which present a significant challenge to our national security . So , the national biosecurity strategy calls for the U . S . and other countries at the lowest level possible to assess where a threat is most likely to emerge .”
Walke continued , “ To prevent or reduce the likelihood of an emerging threat , to prepare and effectively respond to an emerging threat , and to help communities adequately recover all of these actions , are needed to prevent and minimize the risk of a national or international significant biological Incident , such as the eventual emergence of Disease X , and the response . The CDC has reflected on some of the shortcomings of our response to COVID and have undergone an internal reorganization and a focus on some foundational capabilities to improve our response in the future . The CDC Moving Forward initiative was started under our previous director and continues under our current director . This initiative includes CDC staff translating our science faster and in a way that ’ s more understandable by the public , promoting more partnerships , integrating health equity into everything that we do , and strengthening foundational capabilities and our workforce .”
Walke emphasized that when preparedness is discussed , it ’ s just not the activities at CDC , it ’ s also the investments being made in core public health activities within states , territories , tribes and localities . In his IDWeek presentation , Walke highlighted a few key flagship programs that contribute to the infrastructure of preparedness in the U . S . For example , the public health emergency preparedness grant program distributes about $ 650 million a year to state and territorial jurisdictions , helping health departments to respond to public health emergencies ; boosting epidemiology and laboratory capacity ; and funding public health infrastructure . “ Funding to states needs to be flexible , sustained , integrated and coordinated to ensure systems are working together efficiently ,” he stated .
Walke next pointed to the immense number of funds – $ 43 billion – that were issued for the U . S . COVID-19 pandemic response , including laboratory testing , infection prevention and control , and vaccine development support . “ We can leverage some of these investments to respond to new emerging threats , including Disease X .”
“ So , how will CDC respond to disease X in the future ?” Walke continued . “ It comes down to early detection , characterizing the threat , mitigating the impact , and protecting those at greatest risk from severe outcomes . We have a group at CDC that specializes in using event-based public health surveillance , which includes unstructured information such as media reports , stories , and rumors to track
18 november 2023 • www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com