The Critical Role of Partnerships


The challenge of emerging infections is broad, therefore, an effective 
response will require the efforts of multiple agencies and organizations and
strong ties among public health, clinical, and biomedical research 
professionals. Although CDC maintains primary responsibility for national 
surveillance and rapid investigation of emerging threats, it shares other 
responsibilities with many organizations in regard to research and 
implementation of control measures.

Cooperative efforts between CDC and its partners have helped address such 
infectious disease threats as nosocomial infections, influenza, listeriosis,
streptococcal and pneumococcal disease, ehrlichiosis, and HPS (see Boxes). 
CDC has also cooperated with numerous representatives from academia, 
clinical practice, private industry, health departments, and other federal 
agencies in the development of the National Vaccine Plan and the National 
Action Plan to Combat Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis.

Partnerships at the federal level have been helpful in confronting other 
infectious diseases of public health importance in the United States. For 
example, CDC and NIH, working closely with ASTPHLD, developed improved 
diagnostic tests for Lyme disease and various fungal infections. CDC has 
also worked closely with FDA and USDA in controlling emerging foodborne 
illnesses such as listeriosis,90,96 Salmonella enteritidis infection,34 and E. coli
 O157:H7 infection.43,44 Recent CDC collaborations with EPA have been 
instrumental in recognizing and controlling waterborne outbreaks of 
giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis in several states.

In addition, CDC has often joined forces with USDA and DOD to control or 
prevent vector-borne infectious disease threats, such as eastern equine 
encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis. Such cooperative efforts were used 
successfully to address potential mosquito-borne illness following Hurricane
Andrew in Florida and Louisiana in 1992.97

Clear, well-established lines of communication and responsibility between 
appropriate personnel in federal agencies, such as CDC, NIH, EPA, FDA, USDA, 
DOD, and others, are essential to the development of efficient, cost-
effective prevention and control strategies. Such links help eliminate 
costly duplication of effort and focus limited federal resources on the 
early recognition and timely control of new infectious disease problems.

Effective public health policy results from interaction, cooperation, and 
coordination among a wide range of public and private organizations and 
individuals. Particularly critical to this process are CDC's partnerships 
with state and territorial health departments; other federal agencies; 
professional organizations; academic institutions; private health care 
providers; health maintenance organizations and health alliances; local 
community organizations; private industry; and international partners, 
including WHO and international service organizations and foundations. 
Each of these partners will play an integral role in the cooperative 
efforts required to safeguard the public's health from emerging infectious 
disease threats.