Identifying opportunities for increased collaboration to address global infectious disease issues

Growing migration, coupled with global climate change, have expanded the variety, range, and incidence of infectious diseases in the United States at a time of rising healthcare costs and shrinking state and local budgets. Public health’s responsibilities to address this include surveillance, education of providers and the public about infectious disease threats, and quarantine. Addressing global infectious disease issues will promote progress in improving the health of all populations and achieving greater health equity, but in order to do so, states must have access to information on effective practices as well as resources to assist in the implementation of effective public health policies and programs.

ASTHO will present on building partnerships with national and international health organizations; share available resources of value to public health agencies; and identify focus areas for improvement. Strategies and opportunities for public health agencies to address global infectious disease issues will be shared, including strategies to realize the public health responsibilities identified above.

ASTHO convened a meeting in July 2013 to examine current migration trends, identify pressing issues related to both disease and human migration, and identify opportunities for collaboration and coordination between the state, federal and international levels. Findings from this meeting will be discussed, including in the areas of infectious disease trends, travel and quarantine, and refugees and border health.