Preventing emerging infectious diseases: a strategy for the 21st century

In: http://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/12242/

Abstract

In 1994, CDC launched the first phase of a nationwide effort to revitalize national capacity to protect the public from infectious diseases. The effort focused on four goals: improving disease surveillance and outbreak response; supporting research to understand and combat emerging infectious threats; preventing infectious diseases by implementing disease control programs and communicating public health information; and rebuilding the infectious disease-control component of the public health infrastructure. As a nation, we have made progress in all four areas. The first line of defense for public health— our network of state and local health departments— has been strengthened, and as a nation we have become better prepared to address new diseases as they arise. We have developed new tools for detecting and controlling infectious diseases. New programmatic efforts have incorporated the latest theories and techniques to help people change behaviors that favor the spread of infectious diseases. These achievements were made possible by the hard work and dedication of colleagues in local, state, and federal government; in universities; in private industry; and in many nongovernmental organizations and professional societies. CDC has also begun to address emerging disease issues at the global level, working in partnership with foreign governments, the World Health Organization, and other organizations and agencies. At the same time, however, we have witnessed the appearance of new and unforeseen disease threats, such as a virulent strain of avian influenza that attacks humans, a human variant of "mad cow disease,â€? and new drug-resistant forms of Staphylococcus aureus. The emergence of these threats reminds us that we must not become complacent. We must never underestimate the power, destructiveness, and endless adaptability of infectious microbes. As we face the new millennium, we must renew our commitment to the prevention and control of infectious diseases, recognizing that the battle between humans and microbes will continue long past our lifetimes and those of our children. This document, Preventing Emerging Infectious Diseases: A Strategy for the 21st Century, describes CDC's plan to combat infectious diseases over the next 5 years. ; Preface -- Executive Summary -- -- Introduction -- Background -- The "Endâ€? of infectious diseases -- A New consensus: the Institute of Medicine report -- CDC's response -- -- The Second Phase of CDC's Strategy -- CDC's role -- CDC components involved with infectious diseases -- Partnerships -- Goals for preventing emerging infectious diseases: -- Target areas -- -- Summary of the Goals and Objectives -- -- CDC's Plan: Preventing Emerging Infectious Diseases: A Strategy for the 21st Century -- Goal I: Surveillance and response -- Goal II: Applied research -- Goal III: Infrastructure and training -- Goal IV: Prevention and control -- -- Anticipated Outcomes -- -- Appendix: Implementation of high priorities from Addressing Emerging Infectious Disease Threats: A Prevention Strategy for the United States 1994–1997 -- -- Acknowledgments -- References -- List of Boxes -- Acronyms -- Index ; October 1998. ; Includes index. ; References: p. 60-63.