Understanding and responding to global health security risks from microbial threats in the Arctic : proceedings of a workshop / Lauren Everett, rapporteur.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

European Academies Science Advisory Council.

Contributor:

Everett, Lauren, rapporteur.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Communicable diseases--Prevention.

Communicable diseases.

Arctic Regions.

Medical Subjects:

Arctic Regions.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (97 pages)

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : National Academies Press, [2020]

Summary:

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in collaboration with the InterAcademy Partnership and the European Academies Science Advisory Committee held a workshop in November 2019 to bring together researchers and public health officials from different countries and across several relevant disciplines to explore what is known, and what critical knowledge gaps remain, regarding existing and possible future risks of harmful infectious agents emerging from thawing permafrost and melting ice in the Arctic region. The workshop examined case studies such as the specific case of Arctic region anthrax outbreaks, as a known, observed risk as well as other types of human and animal microbial health risks that have been discovered in snow, ice, or permafrost environments, or that could conceivably exist. The workshop primarily addressed two sources of emerging infectious diseases in the arctic: (1) new diseases likely to emerge in the Arctic as a result of climate change (such as vector-borne diseases) and (2) ancient and endemic diseases likely to emerge in the Arctic specifically as a result of permafrost thaw. Participants also considered key research that could advance knowledge including critical tools for improving observations, and surveillance to advance understanding of these risks, and to facilitate and implement effective early warning systems. Lessons learned from efforts to address emerging or re-emerging microbial threats elsewhere in the world were also discussed. This publication summarizes the presentation and discussion of the workshop.

Contents:

Overview

Background and context

Opening remarks.

Session 1: What do we know?

Viruses in permafrost

2016 anthrax outbreak

Panel on ecosystem changes and microbial threats in the environment

Environmental and climatic determinants of infectious disease

Panel on the potential risk of human and animal exposure to threats.

Session 2: What do we need to know?

Wildlife health surveillance

Human health surveillance

Panel on research needs and gaps in scientific understanding and surveillance capabilities

Discussion on biosafety and biosecurity risks.

Session 3: Research and operational paths forward

Local environmental observer network

Zoonotic diseases of importance to subsistence communities

Using indigenous knowledge to detect emerging pathogens

Panel on international and multidisciplinary research examples

Discussion on harmonization of surveillance data.

Final thoughts: impacts of microbial threats on stakeholder organizations

Closing remarks

References

Appendix A: Statement of task

Appendix B: Planning committee biosketches

Appendix C: Workshop agenda

Appendix D: Workshop participants.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-309-68128-6

0-309-68126-X