[Emerging Infectious Diseases]                                                         
[Volume 4 No. 3 / July - September 1998]

Special Issue

APEC Emerging Infections Network: Prospects for Comprehensive Information
Sharing on Emerging Infections within the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

Ann Marie Kimball,* Carrie Horwitch,* Patrick O'Carroll,† Sumarjati
Arjoso,‡ Chaiyos Kunanusont,§ Ya-Shin Lin,* Clifford Meyer,* Laura
Schubert,* and Phillip Dunham*
*University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA; †The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; ‡Ministry of Health,
Indonesia; and §Ministry of Public Health, Thailand

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Trading blocs realize the strategic importance of and threats from emerging
infections, particularly those related to travel and food. Like the
European Union, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is undertaking
an initiative in emerging infections.

The APEC Emerging Infections Network project builds on an existing
Internet-based educational network (APEC EduNet), created to help link APEC
"study centers" at designated universities. Use of collaborative tools,
such as e-mail and the World Wide Web, helps bridge the broad geographic
expanse and diversity of APEC economies, permitting scientists and policy
makers to share information and more effectively combat emerging infectious
disease through surveillance, prevention, research, and control measures.

In the project's first year, staff made site visits to Thailand, Indonesia,
the Philippines, and Canada, and compiled information regarding Internet
access in these selected economies. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
(MDRTB) was selected as a disease priority by the partner economies.
Accurate, prospective surveillance data on MDRTB are not generally
available. Information sharing by e-mail and automated e-mail lists has
been successful, and feedback suggests these strategies will become
increasingly useful. The Emerging Infections Network (EINet) Web site
includes project information, surveillance data, policy discussion,
prevention guidelines, and distance learning resources about emerging
infections.

Human networking is as important as technology-based networking in
addressing emerging infections. Technology is adequate to support
communications if a comprehensive telecommunications strategy is used.
APEC, unlike the European Union, does not have the treaty basis to support
this intercountry collaboration, so memoranda of understanding are needed
to facilitate sustainable surveillance information flow and scientific
cooperation. Numerous member economies are eager to be included in project
activities. In the second year the project is expanding both in terms of
breadth of information and geography of economies.

Additional Information

  1. Kimball AM. Pacific Rim economic ties spur emerging infections
     network. Washington Public Health 1997;22.
  2. Lance CR, Joseph CA, Bartlett CLR. European surveillance of
     travel-associated Legionnaires disease. Slide presentation at the
     International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases, Atlanta.
  3. WHO/IUATLD. Global project on anti-tuberculosis drug resistance
     surveillance, 1994-1997. Geneva: World Health Organization;1997. p.
     1-227.


Emerging Infectious Diseases
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, GA

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