Cooperative Crisis Management and Avian Influenza. A Risk Assessment Guide for International Contagious Disease Prevention and Risk Mitigation

Abstract

Abstract : The risk assessment and mitigation tool advanced in this paper responds to the need for both a regional/global tool to evaluate the status of preparedness of individual countries and a more cooperative connection among regions. This preventive action tool creates a scientifically sound strategy for risk assessment and mitigation and serves several objectives. First, it lays the foundation for development of an international standard for communicable disease prevention and response. This is vital if communication, cooperation, and collaboration are to occur both within countries and across international borders. Infectious disease pathogens, like avian influenza, do not recognize borders. Second, this tool serves a teaching function. It can educate authorities and agencies at all levels of government on factors important to preventing disease transmission, responses to a communicable disease outbreak, and the importance of information-sharing at the international level. It includes practical strategies and tools that will be useful in developing information-sharing procedures within and between countries. Third, and more broadly, this risk assessment and mitigation tool can assist local, city, state, provincial, national or federal authorities, and many other users, such as public and private researchers, analysts, and the media, who might gain greater insight regarding crisis management and prevention in the context of not only public health emergencies, but also natural disasters and even terrorism. This knowledge will foster cooperation among these disparate sectors; reduce the likelihood of inaccurate media reports and unreasonable response expectations; and improve the efforts of scientific, policy, and risk communication researchers.