Global Disease Detection: Regional Centers

A central focus of GDD is the establishment and expansion of GDD Regional Centers, particularly in resource-constrained locations. CDC operates GDD Centers in 1) Thailand, 2) Kenya, 3) Guatemala, 4) China, 5) Egypt, and 6) India 7) South Africa. In Fiscal Year 2009, India was selected as the seventh country to host a GDD Regional Center, where start-up activities are currently underway in influenza, zoonotic investigation and control, and field epidemiology training.

Regional Centers are selected in consultation with invited countries, internal experts, and national and international partners, and based on:

• Public health significance: The country has a high population density or history of infectious diseases or expected potential for emerging diseases;
• Country commitment: The country supports and values partnership with CDC and will actively engage in collaborative activities and identify new partners;
• Established CDC presence: The country has an established, effective working relationship with CDC and supports CDC staff in-country;
• Established regional reach: The country has the infrastructure and regional stature to serve as regional resource, or is already acting as a regional leader in other arenas;
• International partner presence: The country has other U.S. Government agencies and international partners operating in-country.

Global Disease Detection Regional Centers are located in all WHO regions. Together with partners, Centers work directly with Ministries of Health to identify, control and combat priority infectious diseases. Regional Center locations are selected in consultation with invited countries, internal experts, WHO, and national and international partners, and based on:

• Public health significance
• Established CDC presence
• Established regional scope
• International partner presence

GDD Regional Center Activities: GDD promotes scientific discovery through partnership with host countries to identify new health threats and improve endemic burdens. Key to improved national and global health outcomes is the assimilation of five core activities measured and tracked in the field for: 1) outbreak response, 2) surveillance, 3) pathogen discovery, 4) training, and 5) networking.

Headquarters’ Support: Centers are supported by the GDD Operations Center, located at CDC’s Headquarters in Atlanta, which is the agency’s liaison to the Global Outbreak Alert Response Network (GOARN). CDC’s in-depth scientific expertise can be brought to the field on a 24/7 basis at the request of country partners through its Technical Support Corps.

Future Direction:

• Reduce gaps and build capacity in global preparedness for emerging health threats
• Increase number of public health professionals trained by GDD programs
• Expand activities at the GDD Center located in India
• Fully develop capacities at existing GDD Centers and select a new Center location in 2010
• Broaden and strengthen global partnerships

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