Preparedness and Response Considerations for High-Consequence Infectious Disease

Abstract

High-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) are acute human infectious diseases with high illness and case-fatality rates, few or no available effective treatment or prevention options, and the ability to spread in the community and within healthcare settings. Those characteristics lead to significant risks to patients and their close contacts, healthcare workers, laboratory personnel, and communities exposed to an outbreak. We describe aspects of healthcare system preparedness for and response to HCIDs, including the role of high-level isolation units, ensuring safe clinical laboratory capabilities and waste management, increasing availability of medical countermeasures, coordinating with stakeholders and systems of care, and communicating with the public. Finally, we discuss priority areas for further investment in HCID preparedness, care, and research. Effective and equitably disseminated medical countermeasures for HCIDs are urgently needed.

Keywords: bioterrorism and preparedness; emergency management; emerging pathogens; high-consequence infectious disease; high-consequence pathogens; public health; viruses.

Figure

Global cases of infection with and deaths from Ebola, Marburg, and Nipah viruses, 1967–2024. A) No. cases; B) no. deaths.