president and executive director’s message
Securing Global Public Health
Scott Becker: I’ve been with APHL for almost 20 years now, and one of the things that drew me here
was that this is a domestic organization with a global viewpoint. In fact, APHL has always been
involved with global health, the subject of this issue of Lab Matters. When I started, it was a $25,000
project; today, it’s many projects totaling almost $20 million. But, readers may ask, why is APHL
involved in global health anyway?
Chris Whelen: I can answer that. To put it simply, strengthening global laboratory networks protects us
all from emerging infections and other public health threats. The ability to track what’s happening in other
parts of the world helps us prepare for dealing with threats closer to home; it’s much better to tackle
those infectious diseases where they emerge and before they have a chance to spread.
Becker: Exactly. Plus, from an organizational perspective, global health is an integral part of our
mission and vision. And, it’s the right thing to do. It’s also a personal interest of so many of our
members who are eager to translate their passion for laboratory practice into something for the
global good.
Whelen: Coming from Hawaii, I have to point out APHL’s significant work in the US-affiliated Pacific
Islands (USAPI). As you know, about six years ago APHL gave funding to the Pacific Island Health
Officers Association (PIHOA) to subsidize the cost of shipping specimens from the USAPI to the
Hawaii State Laboratories Division (SLD) and other labs for reference testing. That was a real boon for
the region and cemented the ties between the SLD and USAPI laboratories. Since then, the SLD has
tested hundreds of USAPI specimens for influenza, influenza-like illnesses, measles, chikungunya,
dengue and, most recently, Zika virus. When the turn-around-time for Zika testing at CDC–Fort
Collins was up to six weeks this past spring, it made a big difference to the region to have another
reference-level laboratory already in the loop.
Becker: As you mentioned earlier, that surveillance data is critically important for the region affected
and for the US states. For one thing, that situational awareness is necessary for evaluating potential
imported cases and issuing travel advisories.
Whelen: That’s right. And the sooner the data is available, the better.
“
The ability to track what’s happening in other parts of the
world helps us prepare for dealing with threats closer to
home; it’s much better to tackle those infectious diseases
where they emerge and before they have a chance to spread.”
–A. Christian Whelen, PhD, D(ABMM), president
2
LAB MATTERS Fall 2016
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