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Emerging disease surveillance in Southeast Asia
A Corwin1, C H Simanjuntak, A Ansari
1Emerging Disease Program, US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
|March 12, 1998
Summary
This study highlights the importance of rational infectious disease surveillance in Southeast Asia for early detection and intervention. Supported by NAMRU-2, a multi-design strategy enhances pathogen and antimicrobial resistance monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Emerging infectious diseases require robust surveillance for timely detection and intervention.
- Southeast Asia is a critical region for monitoring novel and re-emerging pathogens.
- Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global health threat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline a rational, multi-design surveillance strategy for infectious diseases in Southeast Asia.
- To detail the role of the US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2 (NAMRU-2) in supporting these efforts.
- To emphasize the need for standardized studies and advanced diagnostics for pathogen and resistance detection.
Main Methods:
- Systematic multi-size studies, often hospital-based.
- Investigation of suspected outbreak events with significant case populations.
- Monitoring of "risk opportunities" including pre/post-travel screening of susceptible individuals.
Main Results:
- Surveillance identified Vibrio cholerae strains, Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance patterns, HIV genotypic spread, and Hepatitis E virus transmission foci.
- The multi-design strategy facilitates recognition of emerging and re-emerging diseases.
- Collaborative research with NAMRU-2 is crucial for comprehensive surveillance.
Conclusions:
- Focused surveillance optimizes public health resource allocation.
- A standardized, collaborative approach is essential for identifying new disease agents and antimicrobial resistance.
- Effective surveillance strategies are key to controlling infectious disease threats in vulnerable populations.