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Coordinating Office for Global Health

GDD Key Accomplishments

During 2006 and 2007, the GDD Centers and supporting programs at CDC Headquarters have conducted a variety of activities in support of the GDD mission.

Outbreak Response:
  • The GDD Centers collectively provided response support to more than 230 disease outbreaks and public health events during 2006 and 2007, including response to avian influenza, hemorrhagic fever, meningitis, cholera, Rift Valley fever, unknown respiratory disease, arsenic poisoning, and dengue hemorrhagic fever.
During 2007, outbreak responses included:
  • Response to a Rift Valley fever outbreak in four countries, resulting in slaughter bans and livestock quarantines that led to a reduction of cases. (Kenya)
  • Response to an outbreak of influenza on an HIV ward at one public hospital. The investigation resulted in a new Ministry of Health policy to purchase and begin using influenza vaccine for health care personnel. (Guatemala)
  • Response to a cholera outbreak in a refugee camp, which resulted in screening and quarantine for US-bound refugees to assure that no exported cases occurred. (Thailand)
Surveillance:
  • All Centers are conducting surveillance projects and 3 Centers are conducting active, population-based surveillance.
  • Centers are using surveillance data to detect outbreaks, make policy recommendations, evaluate new interventions, and measure public health impact. For example, the documentation of the burden, cost, and high-risk groups for influenza was very influential in support of a national policy in Thailand to provide influenza vaccine to persons age 65 years and older with chronic medical conditions.
Pathogen Discovery:
  • During 2007, the GDD Centers collectively discovered 13 new pathogens.  These pathogens were either identified for the first time anywhere in the world, or newly discovered within the GDD Center regions.  Three pathogens were discovered during 2006.
  • During 2007, the GDD Centers collectively established diagnostic testing capacity for in-country testing of 19 conditions.  Capacity was established for more than 11 conditions in 2006.  Because this capacity had previously been unavailable, it has enhanced disease detection and identification of appropriate response interventions.
Training:
  • During 2007, the GDD Centers collectively helped to strengthen in-country and regional public health capacity for outbreak detection and response by graduating 51 FETP fellows (up from 27 in 2006); 116 graduates now hold public health leadership positions in their countries. 
  • During 2007, the GDD Centers collectively provided rapid response training for more than 2,500 participants, and short-term public health training for more than 3,600 participants.   
Networking:
  • During 2007, the Kenya GDD Center collaborated with the International Organization of Migration to develop outbreak response protocols for use in African Refugee Camps.
  • During 2007, the Thailand GDD Center collaborated with Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia on National and regional multi-sectoral operational planning for avian influenza, pandemic influenza, and all-hazards response.

 

 

Content Source: Coordinating Office for Global Health
Page last modified: December 5, 2008