About IEIP
Background
The International Emerging Infections Program (IEIP) is a core component of CDC’s Global Disease Detection Program (GDD), the agency’s principal and most visible program for strengthening global capacity to not only identify but also rapidly and effectively respond to emerging infections around the world. As part of CDC’s global strategy, centers of excellence that integrate disease surveillance, applied research, prevention, and control activities have been established in developing countries.
The IEIP sites were modeled in part on the U.S. Emerging Infections Program (EIP), whose sites conduct population-based surveillance, provide emergency outbreak assistance, invest in cutting edge research, and address new problems whenever they arise. Because the EIP sites combine specialized epidemiologic and laboratory expertise, they are able to go beyond the routine functions of local health departments to address important issues in infectious diseases and public health. It is envisioned that IEIP sites will be just as successful at the global level.
IEIP sites will strengthen national public health capacity and provide hands-on training in laboratory science, epidemiologic science, and public health administration and, over time, may have a regional impact on health as well.
Purpose
IEIP sites will serve as international and national resources for global infectious disease surveillance, conduct applied epidemiologic and laboratory research, develop measures to prevent and control emerging infectious diseases that threaten the U.S., and strengthen the global public health infrastructure.
Currently, IEIP sites incorporate five core activities:
- Disease surveillance
- Outbreak support
- Public health research for disease control and prevention
- Training and capacity building
- Networking with other IEIP sites
Specific goals include conducting emerging infectious disease surveillance and research of global public health importance, providing diagnostic and epidemiologic resources when outbreaks occur, training local scientists, serving as platforms for regional infectious disease control activities, and disseminating proven public health tools.
Sites
As of 2008, there are 6 IEIP country participants (year of establishment):
IEIP sites use bilateral agreements between HHS/CDC and the Ministries of Health to work on emerging infections of regional and global importance. Additional partners include the World Health Organization, academia, other U.S. governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Page last modified: February 12, 2009