Emerging Infections and Outbreak Response
From West Nile to Zika to COVID-19, recent history shows us that emerging infectious diseases remain a threat to public health. NACCHO increases the capacity of local health departments to prevent and control infectious diseases in their communities. On a regular basis, NACCHO shares the local health department perspective on national infectious disease policies, priorities, and guidance documents and connects local health departments with strategies, tools, and resources to enhance their preparedness for infectious diseases. During emerging infectious disease situations and outbreaks, NACCHO provides local health departments with tools, resources, and rapidly changing guidance to ensure that they can more effectively prepare and respond.
Learn more about our work below and be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter, The Transmission Digest, to receive the latest updates directly to your inbox.
FACT SHEETS
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Creative Collaborations Strengthen TB Care in Three Communities | Informing Local Health Department and Health Center Partnerships: Creative Collaborations Strengthen Tuberculosis Care in Three Communities. |
| One Health: Local Health Department Approaches for Addressing the Interconnectivity of Human, Animal, and Environmental Health | One Health: Local Health Department Approaches for Addressing the Interconnectivity of Human, Animal, and Environmental Health |
| Zika Resources for Local Health Departments | Zika Resources for Local Health Departments |
| Name | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Preventing and Monitoring Infectious Disease Risks in Post-Disaster Shelters | 2/6/2019 | In this webinar, the Florida Department of Health and Harris County Public Health discussed unique disaster response experiences, particularly infectious disease surveillance and control in post-disaster shelters following Hurricane harvey. |
| Webinar recording introduction to social network analysis broad overview and a demonstration of a novices guide using-r-statnet | 6/28/2018 | NACCHO hosted a webinar on conducting social network analyses, including what they look like and how they can be applied. Webinar participants were also led through an explanation and live demonstration of a recently developed toolkit from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, A Novice’s Guide: Social Network Analysis Using R Statnet, which includes basic terminology and steps for conducting a social network analysis using free data analysis software. |
| Communicating Changing Guidance: Lessons from Zika and Beyond | 6/25/2018 | NACCHO hosted this webinar to discuss communicating changing guidance, in the context of the Zika response and beyond. Presenters described how CDC communicated changing guidance during the Zika response; identified lessons learned that can translate to the local level; and explained strategies employed by one local health department for communicating changing guidance to multiple audiences in emerging situations. |
| Legionella: Exploring National Guidance and Local Experiences | 6/7/2018 | NACCHO hosted a webinar exploring national guidance and local experiences on Legionella. Presenters described signs and symptoms of Legionella infection, how it spreads, and how it can be prevented; identified CDC resources available for state and local health departments to investigate and prevent Legionnaires’ disease outbreak; and explained strategies employed by one local health department for investigating reported outbreaks due to Legionella. |
| 2017 Hepatitis A Outbreak Response: Lessons from Big Cities | 11/7/2017 | NACCHO hosted a webinar to highlight lessons learned and updates from jurisdictions experiencing outbreaks of hepatitis A virus. During this webinar, you will hear outbreak response updates from three different cities. Representatives from San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and the Detroit Health Department shared their local response to this unique outbreak, lessons learned, and how your health department can prepare. |
| Reflecting on the Arkansas Mumps Outbreak | 9/12/2017 | NACCHO hosted a webinar on the Arkansas Mumps Outbreak, which began in August 2016, to hear about the circumstances of the outbreak, the social challenges involved, and the strategies for response. |
ARTICLES
In an effort to highlight the role of NACCHO and local health departments in addressing issues related to emerging infectious diseases, NACCHO periodically develops feature articles. Check out the latest below.
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Against Antimicrobial Resistance: A Local Commitment to Fighting a Global Threat | As the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) grows and affects human, animal, and environmental health, a multidisciplinary One Health approach and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) efforts across these settings are necessary to optimize outcomes for patients, populations, and communities as a whole. |
| World TB Day 2018: Leading the Charge at the Local Level | Tuberculosis (TB) persists as a problem in the United States with 9,272 cases detected in 2016, according to CDC. To maintain awareness of this continued threat and honor Dr. Robert Koch’s discovery of the bacteria that causes TB, March 24 is recognized as World TB Day. |
| International Infection Prevention Week 2017: Local Approaches to Combating Antibiotic Resistance | In recognition of the need for urgent response and the power of sharing information, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is dedicating this year’s International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW), October 15-21, 2017, to raising awareness around antibiotic resistance (AR) and the roles of healthcare providers, public health professionals, and patients in combatting AR. |
| Linking Data Systems for Faster Flu Responses | NACCHO staff took time to speak with Applied Public Health Informatics Fellow Robyn Matthews, MPH, to learn about her project to improve public health response to influenza by leveraging the County of San Diego Public Health Services’ (PHS) syndromic surveillance system. |
| National Handwashing Week 2017: The Power of Preventative and Primary Intervention | To mark National Handwashing Awareness Week (Dec. 4-10), Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department wants to share strategies and tactics we use to promote proper handwashing. |
The below Stories from the Field were written by local health department staff to share their first-hand experiences addressing issues related to emerging infectious diseases.
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Special Revenue Funds: Winning the Vector War! | Shelby County (TN) Health Department (6/27/2018) |
| Zika Visits South Florida, A Public Health Response | Florida Department of Health in Broward County (4/18/2018) |
IDPC WORKGROUP
NACCHO convenes the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (IDPC) Workgroup to provide a forum for discussing infectious disease prevention and control-related priorities, policies, and funding issues to be raised with CDC and other national partners. E-mail [email protected] to submit a topic or issue for consideration by the workgroup.
NACCHO has several policy statements related to Infectious Disease.
- Access to School-Based Data
- Antimicrobials in Animals
- Antimicrobial Stewardship and Resistance
- Applied Epidemiologists Competencies
- Arbovirus Surveillance, Prevention, and Control
- Collaboration in Infectious Disease Prevention and Control
- Healthcare-Associated Infections
- Immigrant, Refugees, and Asylees with Communicable Diseases
- Infectious Diseases in Correctional Facilities
- Local Epidemiology and Surveillance
- Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms
- National Healthcare Safety Network
- National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System
- Notifiable Disease Reporting
- Paid Sick Leave
- Vector Borne Disease
To access our program's policies and letters to congress, visit the policy statement page.
Check out these additional resources for more tools and resources related to infection prevention, preparedness, and control: