Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
14:56
Remote Laboratory Management: Respiratory Virus Diagnostics
Published on: April 6, 2019
Outbreak preparedness and response in a globalized world: are we ready?
Francesca F Norman1, David Brett-Major2, Chiara Sepulcri3
1National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, CIBERINFEC, Madrid, Spain.
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
|June 11, 2026
Summary
Global travel clinics show limited diagnostic capacity for Oropouche virus (OROV), a potential emerging threat. Strengthening OROV testing infrastructure is crucial for pandemic preparedness and rapid outbreak response.
Area of Science:
- Global Health Security
- Infectious Disease Surveillance
- Diagnostic Capacity Assessment
Background:
- Recent epidemics underscore the need for robust diagnostic capabilities to address emerging infectious threats.
- Enhanced operational capacities and emergency response infrastructure are vital for controlling outbreaks and preventing escalation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnostic capacity for Oropouche virus (OROV) testing in specialized travel medicine clinics.
- To evaluate the availability of OROV RNA and serological testing, as well as testing for other arboviruses.
Main Methods:
- An email-linked survey was distributed to clinics within the GeoSentinel and TropNet surveillance networks.
- The survey, conducted from January to March 2025, collected data on OROV diagnostic testing capabilities and other arbovirus testing.
- Response data from 58 participating sites were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Only 50% of responding sites had OROV diagnostic testing available through a reference laboratory, with 40% capable of OROV RNA detection and 17% offering onsite serological testing.
- Median turnaround times for OROV molecular results were 4 days onsite and 6 days at reference labs.
- Over 50% of sites could test for other arboviruses like dengue and chikungunya, with 67% offering onsite serological testing for non-OROV arboviruses.
Conclusions:
- The study revealed significant gaps in diagnostic capacity for OROV at international travel medicine clinics, highlighting potential weaknesses in novel pathogen preparedness.
- Findings emphasize the need for improved communication, strategic planning, and strengthened diagnostic infrastructure to enhance response to future arbovirus outbreaks.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Steps in Outbreak Investigation
In the ever-evolving field of public health, statistical analysis serves as a cornerstone for understanding and managing disease outbreaks. By leveraging various statistical tools, health professionals can predict potential outbreaks, analyze ongoing situations, and devise effective responses to mitigate impact. For that to happen, there are a few possible stages of the analysis:
01:23Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
01:28Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
01:20Infection
When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
01:09Preparedness and Phobias
Human fear responses to certain stimuli, such as darkness, heights, deep water, and blood, can often arise despite the absence of direct negative experiences. This phenomenon is rooted in evolutionary psychology, which posits that humans have developed a predisposition to fear stimuli that historically posed significant survival threats. This predisposition, known as preparedness, suggests that early humans who developed a fear of potentially dangerous entities, such as venomous snakes and...
01:24Smallpox
Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.