U.S. Government Roles in the Zika Response

摘要

The U.S. government plays an instrumental role in the response to Zika virus. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leads the nation in preventing, preparing for, and responding to the adverse health effects of public health emergencies and disasters and serves as principal advisor to the Secretary on all matters related to the Zika response. Through a coordinating body called the Disaster Leadership Group (DLG), ASPR and HHS support a wide range of activities at federal, state, and local levels, including: surveillance and risk communication; sustained vector control measures; increased access to contraceptives and other physical barriers to infection; improved screening, diagnostic, and treatment services; and highly coordinated care for children and families affected by Zika. The DLG also addresses policy issues, which for Zika include: international sample collection; implementation of widespread domestic blood screening; standardization of clinical screening and laboratory testing protocols; and alignment of case definitions for birth outcomes and suspected, probable, and confirmed Zika cases. HHS also performs a number of operational Zika activities, including biomedical advanced research and development, downstream licensing and clinical trials, and deployment of medical personnel. In this session, we will share a number of previous and ongoing efforts and issues related to mitigating exposure and transmission of Zika virus.