The Global Emerging Infection Surveillance and Response System (GEIS), a U.S. government tool for improved global biosurveillance: a review of 2009

Kevin L Russell,William Meyer,Kelly G Vest,Jose L Sanchez,Mark M Fukuda,Jennifer Rubenstein,Matthew C Johns,David L Blazes,Ronald L Burke

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-s2-s2

Abstract

The Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (AFHSC-GEIS) has the mission of performing surveillance for emerging infectious diseases that could affect the United States (U.S.) military. This mission is accomplished by orchestrating a global portfolio of surveillance projects, capacity-building efforts, outbreak investigations and training exercises. In 2009, this portfolio involved 39 funded partners, impacting 92 countries. This article discusses the current biosurveillance landscape, programmatic details of organization and implementation, and key contributions to force health protection and global public health in 2009.

Highlights

Introduction and backgroundDespite optimism in the 1960s that mankind had conquered infectious diseases, the world has repeatedly confronted the reality of its continued vulnerability
Department of Defense (DoD) has a long history of medical research and development, much of which has been performed through a network of overseas laboratories
Of globally reported H5N1 infections, 71 percent (37 of 52) were identified or confirmed at DoD partner laboratories funded by Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC)-Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (GEIS), with the vast majority being performed at the NAMRU-3 laboratory in Cairo, Egypt

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and backgroundDespite optimism in the 1960s that mankind had conquered infectious diseases, the world has repeatedly confronted the reality of its continued vulnerability. In 2008, DoD-GEIS became a Division of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC) by direction of the deputy secretary of defense [5]. The current global biosurveillance landscape In addition to AFHSC-GEIS, many other DoD, U.S government and U.S nongovernmental organizations engage in surveillance or capacity-building activities throughout the world [6,7].

Results

Conclusion