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Searching for MERS and Novel Flu with Limited Resources

Description

During the past decade, public health practitioners have implemented various new syndromic and other advanced surveillance systems to supplement their existing laboratory testing and disease surveillance toolkit. While much of the development and widespread implementation of these systems had been supported by public health preparedness funding, the reduction of these monies has greatly constrained the ability of public health agencies to staff and maintain these systems. The appearance of H3N2v and other novel influenza A viruses, requires agencies to carefully choose which systems will provide the most cost-effective data to support their public health practice. The global emergence of influenza A H7N9, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and other viruses associated with high mortality, emphasize the importance of maintaining vigilance for the presence of emerging disease.

Objective

To review approaches used by public health agencies for alerting health care providers and enhancing surveillance systems to identify the presence of novel respiratory disease and to characterize their recent experience in searching for globally emerging viruses.

Submitted by elamb on