Epidemics detection and control

Although disease outbreaks can be inevitable, strong health systems and adequate preparedness and response operations will enable countries to better detect and respond to diseases and prevent outbreaks from occurring or becoming a pandemic. A special challenge lies in maintaining and preparing health systems to deal with threats in countries of instability and conflict, such as many countries in the EMR. An example is the polio outbreak that took place in Syria in 2013, and a more recent example is the cholera outbreak in Yemen that started in October 2016 and is still going on, complicated recently by a diphtheria outbreak; and for both outbreaks, the contribution to the response by experts from the Region has been very weak, if not insignificant. Similarly, was the case during the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

Epidemics detection and control is a focused, competency-based training course that mainly includes the basics of emergency response, principles of outbreak investigation, risk assessment, and risk communication.

1. Differentiate between outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics
2. Understand the principles and components of disease surveillance systems
3. Outline the contents of a contingency plan
4. List the composition and responsibilities of response teams
5. Understand the basic principles of community engagement in epidemics
6. Communicate risk to affected populations and stakeholders