National Academy of Sciences Briefing on Global Surveillance

By Virginia R. Kiefer, AVMA GRD Extern

As a current veterinary student extern at the AVMA GRD, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a public briefing on the report entitled "Sustaining Global Surveillance and Response to Emerging Zoonotic Diseases."

The report was written and presented by a National Academy of Sciences committee. The members of the committee included experts from human and veterinary medicine as well as public health. The co-chairs were Gerald Keusch, M.D., associate provost for global health at Boston University and associate dean of the School of Public Health at Boston University, and Marguerite Pappaioanou, D.V.M., M.V.P.M., PhD, executive director of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). The other committee participants were Terry McElwain, D.V.M., PhD, executive director of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and director of the Washington Animal Health Research Center at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Peter Dasczak, PhD., president of the Consortium for Conservation Medicine and Ramanan Laxminarayan, PhD., M.P.H., senior fellow for Resources for the Future.

The report addressed the need for a better coordinated global system to effectively prevent, detect and respond to zoonotic infectious disease outbreaks. Zoonotic pathogens have caused more than 65 percent of emerging infectious disease outbreaks in the past six decades. Several findings were presented that illustrated the fundamental deficiencies in current global disease surveillance systems. The typical method of response has involved responding to an outbreak after it has already affected widespread human populations instead of early detection of zoonotic diseases in animals. There has been poor communication between animal and human health laboratories across the globe and no central agency to coordinate global surveillance efforts. Additionally, insufficient laboratories exist in areas of high disease prevalence. According to the report, the United States should spearhead efforts to address these deficiencies in order to be proactive against the emergence and spread of zoonotic disease.

The report further delved into strategic approaches that should be taken to strengthen global zoonotic disease surveillance and response. These approaches include determining the magnitude and distribution of disease drivers, strengthening surveillance in underdeveloped countries, heightened surveillance in animal populations, sharing human and animal surveillance information in real-time and engaging other science-based nongovernmental organizations to provide additional geographic reach and field expertise to carry out these surveillance activities. In order to stimulate forward action on these approaches, 12 recommendations were made. The 3 high-priority recommendations involved establishing surveillance and response strategies, establishing sustainable funding resources and creating a coordinating body for global zoonotic disease surveillance and response.

The presentation was a terrific reminder of the integral role veterinarians have in One Health, preventing the control of the spread of disease from animals to humans around the globe. It was also an inspiration to me in terms of the way the presentation outlined an opportunity for future leaders in the veterinary profession to make a significant positive global impact. Undoubtedly, there is work to be done by veterinarians with other leaders across many different disciplines to make the recommendations of this report a reality.

For more information, and to read the entire report, please visit www.iom.edu/zoonoticdiseases.

To learn more about the AVMA Governmental Relations Division Student Externship program, visit www.externsonthehill.com