The Central Role of the Global Emerging Infections Surveillance Program in Supporting Force Health Protection

Area of Science:

• Global health security
• Infectious disease epidemiology
• Military medicine

Background:

• The Global Emerging Infections Surveillance (GEIS) program is the sole Department of Defense (DoD) entity coordinating global infectious disease surveillance.
• Established in 1997, GEIS prioritizes pathogens impacting military operations and service member health.
• Strong partnerships between DoD overseas laboratories and host nations form the program's foundation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical role of the GEIS program in global biosurveillance.
• To emphasize the program's focus on emerging infectious diseases relevant to US military forces.
• To underscore the program's contribution to military readiness and health.

Main Methods:

• Coordinated global surveillance network.
• Long-standing international laboratory and military partnerships.
• Centralized programmatic support for infrastructure development.

Main Results:

• GEIS provides essential infrastructure for rapid and scalable responses to emerging threats.
• The program delivers timely, reliable information to DoD decision-makers.
• GEIS is a vital source of actionable biosurveillance data during global health events.

Conclusions:

• The GEIS program is indispensable for monitoring and responding to global infectious disease threats affecting military personnel.
• Continued evolution of GEIS initiatives ensures ongoing effectiveness in biosurveillance.
• Sustained international collaboration is key to GEIS's success in safeguarding military health.