Infectious Disease Detection and Control in the Developing World.

Outbreaks of infectious disease threaten the health, economy, and security of every nation on earth. The surveillance and identification of disease outbreaks are critical components in reducing the threat of epidemic diseases. However, current measures are insufficient to address global needs. In the developing world, where many novel and dangerous diseases originate, the need for a robust disease surveillance system is particularly vital, but the costs and effectiveness of most current systems are prohibitory. The two current approaches – single-disease surveillance (vertical surveillance) and multi-disease surveillance (broad-spectrum surveillance) – fail to empower indigenous healthcare systems with the ability to identify infectious diseases. This paper argues that a broad-spectrum surveillance system supplemented with frontline diagnostics tools will enable the healthcare systems in developing countries to identify, and better control, a wide range of known and unknown diseases. In turn, this capacity will significantly assisting the international community reduce the threat of infectious disease.