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Responding to Communicable Diseases following the
Tsunami in South-East Asia, 89
pages
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Asia-Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases, ISBN
92 9061 209 6, 41 pages
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 The Department of Communicable Diseases
(CDS) in SEARO has played an instrumental role in responding the tsunami
crisis of 26 December 2004. Communicable diseases, especially those that
are epidemic-prone, are the most significant health threat to the
internally displaced population after a catastrophe of this nature. A
document has been prepared by CDS which highlights the challenges faced and
describes the key technical activities that were carried out by CDS in
SEARO and by WHO and national counterparts in all the six tsunami-affected
countries. The book documents all the work that
was done and challenges that were faced, and acknowledges those who were
involved in the response to prevent and control communicable diseases after
the tsunami. This book would serve as a useful guide for others involved in
responding to future disasters and emergencies in the area of communicable
diseases.
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 Asia has
been at the epicenter of some recent emerging infectious diseases. The
outbreaks of SARS and avian influenza make it clear that communicable
diseases, especially emerging infectious diseases, continue to pose serious
public health threats in the Asia-Pacific Region and to the world at large.
Countries and areas in the Asia-Pacific Region must be better prepared to
meet these challenges if they hope to minimize their impact on health and
economic development and prevent the international spread of disease. The
Asia-Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases is comprehensive, seeking to
improve the ability to respond to infectious disease threats throughout the
Region. Its goal is far-reaching, easily stated but difficult to achieve.
We present this document as a launching pad and roadmap on the journey to
that goal.
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Regional Strategy
for Integrated Disease Surveillance SEA-CD-130, 36 pages
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Combating
Emerging Infectious Diseases SEA-CD-139, 39 pages
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 Disease
surveillance is a critical component of the health system in generating
essential information for optimal health care delivery and a cost-effective
health strategy. WHO has been making continuous efforts in developing and
strengthening disease surveillance during the last three decades.
Resolution WHA 22.47 (1969) urged WHO to assist Member States in utilizing
their existing services to perform epidemiological surveillance as
effectively as possible. In view of the above, the WHO Regional Office for
South-East Asia developed a Regional Strategy for Integrated Disease
Surveillance for discussion at the intercountry
consultation, held in Yangon,
Myanmar,
from 21 to 24 August 2002. It was attended by focal points from all Member States, leading experts from WHO-HQ,
the Regional Office, countries of the Region as
well as the African Region.
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 Despite considerable success in
controlling communicable diseases, recent epidemics of SARS and Avian
Influenza have clearly demonstrated the vulnerability of Asian countries to
rapidly evolving micro-organisms. The frequent occurrence of these
pandemics has also highlighted the fact that, given the existing
environmental, socio-economic and demographic situation, Asia
will be the most likely epicenter of any future pandemic. Prevention and
control of such diseases requires strong political commitment and sustained
financial support along with the application of various epidemiological,
molecular biological, behavioural as well as
statistical approaches and technologies. Intense human-animal interaction
in Asia increases the vulnerability of the
populations to the emergence of zoonotic
infectious diseases.
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