Grant: Operating Grant

Globally, the threat of Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) is on the rise. Significant time and resources have been invested in the development of pandemic preparedness plans, designed to prevent or mitigate the impact of an EID pandemic. With the emergence of SARS in 2003, and novel influenza in 2009, these plans were challenged to ensure public health and security, quickly and with little information about the new EIDs. These experiences demonstrated that despite the best efforts to prepare for such events, real-time management of EIDs is often marked by confusion and uncertainty. Following post-pandemic consultations with international experts in pandemic planning research and decision-making, we better understand how to improve our responses. We have compiled their recommendations to address the knowledge gaps in planning for pandemic outbreaks and public health emergencies. The most prominent recommendations include developing methods to combine emerging infectious disease surveillance data with dynamic demographic mathematical models to rapidly understand and control an EID. This will allow researchers to understand how quickly an EID spreads and generate real-time control options for policymakers. The mathematical model addresses the specific characteristics of the BC population to determine exactly what options would best stop the spread of disease in this province. In parallel, we will conduct a complementary project to understand how this research becomes the basis for new policy during an emergency situation. This will ensure the most efficient flow of research to policy makers for future public health emergencies. With the relevant regional demographic and surveillance data, these advanced frameworks can be implemented in other regions, both nationally and internationally. By focusing on real-time pandemic management options, we will provide tools to control EIDs in an effective way, reducing both the health and economic burden of these diseases.