Trust for America's Health Initiatives

Infectious Disease Prevention

Infectious Disease Prevention

Despite remarkable breakthroughs in medical research and advancements in immunization and treatments, infectious diseases are undergoing a global resurgence. Worldwide, infectious diseases are the leading killer of children and adolescents and are one of the leading causes of death for adults. The impact of emerging infectious diseases in developing countries is well documented. But these diseases also impact Americans, with consequences for the public health system, the delivery of medical care, the economy, and national security.

In, Germs Go Global: Why Emerging Infectious Diseases Are a Threat to America, TFAH concludes that U.S. policymakers must abandon a point of view that emerging infectious diseases in the developing world are a back-burner concern for Americans. The nation's commitment to eliminating these diseases, or mitigating their impact on global mortality and morbidity, can no longer be based on international goodwill alone.

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Policy Information

July 2011
TFAH Comments on Influenza Vaccination Standards in Medicare-Participating Hospitals

April 2011
TFAH Comments on Public Health Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance

April 2011
TFAH Comments on Adult Immunization Work Group Draft Report

October 2010 
HIV Prevention for Gay Men & Men Who Have Sex with Men: Development of a Comprehensive Policy Agenda

October 2010
TFAH Comments on HHS' Action Plan on Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections

August 2010 
TFAH Comments on FDA's Draft Guidance on Use of Antimicrobial Drugs in Food Producing Animals

August 2010
TFAH Comments on OSHA Request for Information on Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings

June 2010
TFAH Testimony Before the House Oversight Committee, "Viral Hepatitis: The Secret Epidemic." 

June 2010
TFAH Testimony Before the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, "Promoting the Development of Antibiotics and Ensuring Judicious Use in Humans."

More policy information

 

Press Releases

September 29, 2011
TFAH Statement on the 10 Year Anniversary of the Anthrax Attacks: Progress and Gaps in Public Health Preparedness

August 25, 2011
New Study Finds Fewer than Half of Female Teens Have Been Vaccinated for HPV, Thousands of Women Develop Cancer Needlessly: Reaction Statement from TFAH

May 12, 2011
TFAH Statement on new HHS Action Plan to Prevent, Care and Treat Viral Hepatitis

September 27, 2010
Millions of Americans Are Living with Hidden Epidemics of Hepatitis B and C, Top Experts Warn

June 17, 2010
Trust for America’s Health Testifies on Hepatitis before Oversight Committee

More press releases

Resources

Selected items from TFAH's Resource Library:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--International Emerging Infections Program
The International Emerging Infections Program is the core of the CDC's Global Disease Detection Program. The program's goals are to identify, as well as rapidly respond to emerging infections around the world.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases
The National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases protects global populations from emerging infectious diseases through surveillance, research, and prevention.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--West Nile Virus
The Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases includes information with surveillance, statistics and control of west nile virus. The website also includes a map reflecting West Nile Virus activity in the United States.

Department of Defense--Global Emerging Infections System
The Department of Defense GEIS was established in response to Presidential Decision Directive NSTC-7, in 1996. In the directive, the President stated that the mission of the DoD will be expanded to include the support of global surveillance, training, research, and response to emerging infectious disease threats.

Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal
A collection of articles relating to emerging infections worldwide.

More resources