Fact Sheet: Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance (IDDS) - Global Health Security

Known and newly emerging diseases pose a critical threat to global health security due to increased global movement of goods and people, changing rural and urban populations, and increased contact between humans and animals. Robust surveillance and diagnostic systems are essential to address these threats to public health.

CAPACITY BUILDING INTEGRATED WITH ONE HEALTH PRINCIPLES

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is working to control new and existing infectious diseases worldwide. As part of these efforts, the Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance (IDDS) – Global Health Security project supports Vietnam to detect priority diseases through building national and provincial capacities to improve diagnostic networks and surveillance systems. IDDS adheres to the holistic One Health collaborative approach of achieving optimal health outcomes through recognizing the interconnection of people, animals, plants and their shared environment.

STRENGTHENING DETECTION, IDENTIFICATION AND SURVEILLANCE OF DISEASES

The primary objectives of IDDS are to strengthen detection of priority diseases and increase real-time surveillance. This helps countries avert the spread of diseases, prevent and mitigate outbreaks, and inform interventions to reduce associated mortality and morbidity. IDDS is a cross-cutting project that supports the Global Health Security Agenda in Vietnam.

EXPECTED RESULTS

IDDS implements technical activities in the following provinces: Binh Dinh, Can Tho, Dong Thap, Ha Giang, Khanh Hoa and Thai Nguyen. IDDS will establish integrated and sustainable human and animal health specimen referral systems, promote increased use of the Vietnam Animal Health Information System, implement event-based surveillance (EBS) in human health, according to guidance from the Vietnam Ministry of Health, and improve the overall EBS system through a One Health approach.