Developing Training in Response to High-Consequence Infectious Diseases and Preparedness Measures for the Future.

Abstract

In recent history, outbreaks of high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) have raised health security concerns among the global community. As HCIDs continue to emerge, public health systems around the world experience the burden of implementing adequate preparedness and response measures to ensure the safety and security of their populations. HCID outbreak response efforts have highlighted the need for specialized training in safety and infection prevention and control for frontline workers who may encounter ill patients. The COVID-19 Mission Prep program for National Disaster Medical System personnel and the Deployment Safety Academy for Field Experiences (D-SAFE) program for US Public Health Service officers are 2 examples of virtual training programs that successfully provided foundational education on infection prevention and control and safety as well as deployable just-in-time training during HCID outbreak response efforts. The methods used to develop these training programs can be adopted by other countries to enhance the global outbreak response infrastructure for the next HCID event. The global outbreak response infrastructure demands investments in training as a preparedness measure, which will ultimately lead to safer, more coordinated outbreak response efforts with competent responders.