Emerging and Re-Emerging Zoonotic Diseases

OIE Collaborating Centre Reports

Activities in 2013

Title of Collaborating Centre: / Emerging and Re-emerging
Zoonotic Diseases
Address of Collaborating Centre: / National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, MS D-76
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
Tel.: / (1-404) 639.7378
Fax: / (1-404) 639.7090
e-mail address: /
website: / http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid
Name of Director of Institute (Responsible Official): / Beth Bell, MD, MPH
Name (including Title and Position) of Head of the Collaborating Centre (formally OIE Contact Point): / Carol Rubin, DVM, MPH
Director, One Health Office
Name (including Title and Position) of writer of this report
(if different from above) / Rebekah Kunkel, MS, MPH
ORISE Fellow, One Health Office


Summary of activities specifically related to the mandate of
OIE Collaborating Centres

ToR: To provide services to the OIE, in particular within the region, in the designated specialty, in support of the implementation of OIE policies and, where required, seek for collaboration with OIE Reference Laboratories

ToR: To identify and maintain existing expertise, in particular within its region

1. Activities as a centre of research, expertise, standardisation and dissemination of techniques within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE

Disease control

Epidemiology, surveillance, risk assessment, modelling

Training, capacity building

Zoonoses

Wildlife

Avian diseases

Aquatic animal diseases

Animal welfare

Diagnosis, biotechnology and laboratory

Veterinary medicinal products

Vaccines

Food safety

Feed safety

Other (Name the category: )

DISEASE CONTROL
Title of activity / Scope
Rabies control / Enhanced efforts to control global canine rabies through continued in-country consultations, diagnostic support, training, and health education to ministries of agriculture and health representatives.
Sterilizing waste using solar power / Partnered with CDC-Kenya and a non-governmental organization (Sanivation) to use concentrated solar energy to sterilize waste so it can be safely used for fertilizer or fuel.
Identification of viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks / In conjunction with the Uganda Virus Research Institute, assisted in the testing and identification Ebola hemorrhagic fever infection (Luwero District of central Uganda) and Marburg virus infection (Kabale, Ibanda, Mbarara, and Kampala Districts of Uganda).
Anthrax outbreak preparation and investigation in Azerbaijan and Georgia / Temporary duty support and intensive planning for 2013 Anthrax Seasonal Outbreaks in Azerbaijan and Georgia, including enhanced surveillance and public awareness
Multiagency task force for response to rabies outbreaks / Worked with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, the National Veterinary Research Institute to create protocols for response to rabies outbreaks; guidelines for post-exposure prophylaxis use
Improving refugee health through treatment of parasitic infections / Provide treatment for parasitic infections to US-bound refugees populations in Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
EPIDEMIOLOGY, SURVEILLANCE, RISK ASSESSMENT, MODELLING
Title of activity / Scope
MicrobNet / MicrobeNet, a reference database for infectious pathogens, was released on January 1, 2013. It enables multiple analyses of a new or rapidly emerging pathogen and reduces reporting time. Laboratory scientists throughout the world can run diagnostic tests and match results against unique or rare isolates in CDC’s reference collections.
ArboNET / ArboNET is a network for mosquito-borne disease detection, prevention, and control. ArboNET funding assists states, Puerto Rico, and six large municipalities to conduct case investigations, field collections, and analyses and submission of information to rapidly monitor and respond to potential epidemic conditions.
TickNET / TickNET works with state health departments to optimize surveillance and prevention activities for bacterial tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. A study of the effectiveness of home pesticide use is under way through TickNET, addressing critical questions about the prevention of Lyme disease.
CryptoNet / Began pilot testing for CryptoNet, the first state-based molecular tracking system for a parasitic infection, cryptosporidiosis. CryptoNet will help us better understand the spread of cryptosporidiosis in the United States.
Expand surveillance in-country for viral hemorrhagic fever / Enabled the rapid diagnosis of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Uganda by expanding surveillance in-country for viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF)— a group of diseases that include Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers. The expanded program included assigning a staff member to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), providing training for case recognition and management for health professionals, providing reagents and training for diagnostic testing, and completing renovation of the VHF diagnostic laboratory at UVRI.
Released the report, “Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013” / The first comprehensive analysis of the 18 most serious drug resistant threats that each year sicken more than 2 million people and kill at least 23,000. The report ranks the threats in categories: urgent, serious, and concerning.
Surveillance of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in agricultural communities in Chiang Mai and Nakorn Ratchasima provinces / Specimens from hospitalized patients with fever of uncertain etiology are tested for endemic zoonoses. If the etiological agent is zoonotic, a veterinary team is sent to investigate the disease among animals around the participants’ farm or house.
Epidemiology and etiology of flaccid paralysis of infectious origin in the Republic of Georgia / A prospective hospital-based surveillance to identify cases of acute flaccid paralysis in adults and children, and characterize the clinical, laboratory, and electrodiagnostic features of the syndrome
TRAINING, CAPACITY BUILDING
Title of activity / Scope
Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Program / Awarded funding to secure an excellent public health workforce, robust surveillance systems, and modern laboratory facilities and information networks and to support disease-specific infectious disease programs in states. The program supports 50 state health departments, 6 local health departments, and 8 territories or US affiliates.
Emerging Infections Program / Awarded funding to conduct gold standard surveillance and epidemiological research to evaluate the impact of prevention programs and policies. The program supports 10 state health departments and their partners.
Electronic Laboratory Reporting / Provided funding to advance electronic laboratory reporting from clinical and public health laboratories to public health agencies is helping to increase national implementation of this technology.
Training for enhanced laboratory-based surveillance for monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of Congo / Providing training for enhanced laboratory-based surveillance for monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As a result, DRC has been sending monthly disease reports with laboratory samples for confirmation so that disease transmission dynamics can be better understood and to provide evidence for new disease control efforts.
Rabies control in the Republic of Georgia / Clearance and installation of Lab equipment; scheduling of lab training; shipment of samples
Strengthening One Health collaboration in Thailand / The goal of this project is to enable the Bureau of Epidemiology and collaborating partners to develop disease surveillance, prevention and control system in line with One Health concepts and to develop an integrated management system for emerging infectious disease preparedness and emergency response.
Improving diagnostic capacity for Q fever and rickettsial diseases / This study provides the necessary reagents and laboratory support to establish laboratory diagnostic capacity in Thailand through the Thai National Institute of Health, the National Institute of Animal Health, and selected clinical diagnostic laboratories.
Building capacity for zoonotic endocarditis in Thailand / In collaboration with Khon Kaen University Hospital, Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and with in-country public health scientists and clinicians in SE Asia, the project is establishing and improving diagnostic capacity for C. burnetii, Bartonella spp., and Streptococcus suis.
Development of improved surveillance, laboratory capacity for the detection of zoonotic pathogens at the Human-Animal Interface in Thailand / Providing laboratory diagnostic training, laboratory workgroup meetings and consultative meetings with Department of Livestock Development and other in-country partners for joint livestock, wildlife and public health surveillance and investigation of Q fever in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces.
Anthrax surveillance and prevention measures in endemic areas in Bangladesh / Refining, standardizing, and strengthening anthrax outbreak responses in both humans and animals; and building laboratory capacity to enhance laboratory confirmation of cases.
Surveillance and outbreak response to Japanese encephalitis virus in India / Improving capacity for Acute Encephalitis Syndrome surveillance and outbreak response.
Technical assistance for rabies outbreaks in Guatemala / Technical assistance to strengthen national laboratory capacity for Rabies surveillance and outbreak investigation.
One Health curriculum recommendations / Developed recommendations and training materials for One Health curriculum as a template for use by for applied epidemiology training programs
Promotion of Lassa fever prevention and control / Trained residents in the Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program in the prevention and control of Lassa fever
ZOONOSES
Title of activity / Scope
Identification of a novel poxvirus in the Republic of Georgia / Collaborated with public health officials in the Republic of Georgia to investigate the discovery of a new poxvirus that caused infection in shepherds in Akhmeta, Georgia. Testing by NCEZID’s Poxvirus Laboratory found a new poxvirus belonging to the same genus (Orthopoxvirus) as smallpox.
Maintains a bat breeding colony / Maintains a breeding colony of wild-caught fruit bats from Uganda that is a resource to understand reservoir host and virus dynamics, including viral shedding, mechanisms or virus transmission, and host immune response to Marburg virus
Pathogen discovery / Tested for viruses in over 700 bat and rodent samples collected from multiple international study sites.
Circulation of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus among humans, animals, and vectors at a camel market in Egypt / Assessing the prevalence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus among high-risk camel owners, domestic and imported camels, and specific variants of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus among ticks collected from domestic and imported camels.
Bartonella prevalence in cats and humans in Guatemala / Study to determine the prevalence of Bartonella spp. circulating in cats and persons at risk (veterinarians, vet technicians, caretakers, etc.) in Guatemala.
Brucellosis incidence in Kenya / Examining brucellosis incidence in Kajiado, Kenya which is a high risk county
Assessment of novel and existing diseases in bats in Nigeria / Identified novel flaviviruses and pegiviruses in bats
Human and domestic animal exposure to zoonotic diseases in bats during the Idanre bat festival / Assessed human knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of rabies and other bat diseases; assessed human and domestic animal illness pre- and post- participation in the bat festival; performed serological testing of acute and convalescent specimens in humans and domestic animals
DIAGNOSIS, BIOTECHNOLOGY, AND LABORATORY
Title of activity / Scope
Biotechnology Core Facility / Uses state-of-the-art methods to help CDC researchers study infectious agents
Plague Rapid Test / Developed a rapid, inexpensive, point-of-care bedside diagnostic ‘dipstick’ test for plague
Rabies direct rapid immunohistochemical test / Developed a new diagnostic test for rabies that requires no specialized equipment or refrigeration, and allows a diagnosis to be made in less than 1 hour. The test is as reliable as the gold standard test and only requires a light microscope.
Cryptococcus screening test / Using a new point-of-care dipstick screening test to detect the presence of cryptococcal antigen and provide treatment before meningitis develops.
New assay that rapidly detects fungal DNA in patients / Developed a new diagnostic assay for identifying fungal DNA in patients in 2 days.
Laboratory Response Network / The Laboratory Response Network links 160 highly specialized laboratories, including health department laboratories, federal and military laboratories, environmental testing and diagnostic veterinary laboratories, as well as international laboratories. This unique network of laboratories is designed to respond to bioterrorism, chemical terrorism, and other public health emergencies.
Point-of-care assay to diagnose monkeypox and orthopoxviruses / The poxvirus team has developed an assay for monkeypox virus and orthopoxviruses. The assay performs clinical sample nucleic acid extraction and quantitative analysis within an hour.
Division of Scientific Resources consultation / The Division of Scientific Resources provides expertise to develop and apply modern technologies (such as genomic sequencing) that result in faster identification of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens.
VACCINES
Title of activity / Scope
Livestock vaccine against Rift Valley Fever / Developed a recombinant vaccine against Rift Valley fever virus for use in livestock
Dengue candidate vaccine that targets all four dengue viruses / Developed a dengue candidate vaccine that targets all four dengue viruses. The vaccine candidate that is being evaluated in Puerto Rico, Singapore, Thailand, and Colombia for safety and immunogenicity.
FOOD SAFETY
Title of activity / Scope
Estimates of food sources associated with foodborne illness / In January 2013, published the first-ever estimates of food sources associated with foodborne illnesses in the United States. Produce, including leafy green and vine-stalk vegetables as well as fruits and nuts, accounts for about half of all foodborne illness, with norovirus being the most common cause. The analysis also showed that meat and poultry are the food sources most often linked to deaths caused by food poisoning, mostly due to Salmonella and Listeria.
The Global Foodborne Infections Network / Enhancing foodborne illness surveillance and outbreak response in conjunction with the World Health Organization

ToR: To propose or develop methods and procedures that facilitate harmonisation of international standards and guidelines applicable to the designated specialty

2. Proposal or development of any procedure that will facilitate harmonisation of international regulations applicable to the surveillance and control of animal diseases, food safety or animal welfare

Proposal title / Scope/Content / Applicable area /
Collaborating for the Implementation of the Revised International Health Regulations National Surveillance and Response Capacity / NCEZID works with CDC’s Division of Global Disease Detection and Emergency Response to assure that the IHR process will be accommodated during all investigations, surveillance activities, and research when appropriate. Whenever possible, animal and human components are sharing biologic isolates and epidemiologic data to facilitate the control and containment of disease. / Surveillance and control of animal diseases
Food safety
Animal welfare
Global Foodborne Infections Network / The network is a collaboration between WHO, CDC, and other international public health organizations which promotes integrated, laboratory-based surveillance and fosters intersectoral collaboration among human health, veterinary and food-related disciplines to enhance the capacity of countries to detect, respond to and prevent foodborne diseases. / Surveillance and control of animal diseases
Food safety
Animal welfare

ToR: To establish and maintain a network with other OIE Collaborating Centres designated for the same specialty, and should the need arise, with Collaborating Centres in other disciplines