Emerging Infections and Biothreats

Public health emergencies caused by infectious threats have the potential to kill thousands or millions of people. These threats can emerge naturally as outbreaks or pandemics, such as influenza (pandemic and seasonal), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), extremely-drug resistant (XDR) tuberculosis, New Delhi metallo-b-lactamase 1 (NDM1), antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, and HIV/AIDS. Or, they can emerge deliberately through bioterrorism, such as the 2001 anthrax attacks or potential threats posed by smallpox, tularemia, and plague. Infectious threats can undermine not only patient care and public health, but also national security. Influenza pandemics, for example, have a long history of devastation in terms of lives lost, hospitalizations, and destabilizing national economies.

Each day, infectious diseases physicians and scientists serve on the front lines in protecting us from such threats. IDSA advances US preparedness and response initiatives by promoting appropriate action by health care providers, strengthened public health and research efforts, development of life-saving countermeasures (vaccines, drugs and diagnostics), and implementation of appropriate non-therapeutic control measures.

Contact your Congressional representative through our Advocacy Center to support legislation in Congress that would strengthen the US response to bioterrorism, influenza and emerging infections.

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Related Websites

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response

Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pandemic Influenza Resources

US Food and Drug Administration Emergency Preparedness and Response

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota

IDSA Policy Position on Climate Change (PDF)

1/1/2019

IDSA policy on preparing for the infectious diseases complications related to climate change. IDSA recognizes climate change as a health emergency requiring urgent action and supports policies to address climate change and its expected impacts on public health in the U.S. and globally.

IDSA Outlines ID Policy Issues for Trump Transition Team (PDF)

11/28/2016

IDSA outlines important ID policy issues for Vice President-elect Mike Pence, head of the Trump Transition Team.

IDSA Zika Vote Statement (PDF)

5/17/2016

IDSA urges Congress to pass the strongest emergency bill possible to combat Zika and to reject efforts to fund the Zika response at the expense of equally critical health funding.

IDSA Co-Authors Brief on Preparedness for Emerging Infections (PDF)

6/1/2015

IDSA joined Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the UPMC Center for Health Security calling for the United States to take additional steps to prepare for MERS-CoV and other emerging infections. The brief argues that public health and healthcare systems cannot afford to become complacent in preparing for infectious disease threats and that system-wide preparedness is needed for potential outbreaks.

IDSA Submits Testimony To Congress Urging Better Investments for Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PDF)

2/3/2015

In connection with a February 2015 Congressional hearing, "Examining the US Public Health Response to Seasonal Influenza," IDSA submitted written testimony highlighting the importance of building a strong public health infrastructure to protect the public from severe illness and death caused by seasonal influenza. The letter urges a greater investment in public health preparedness as well as research and development programs for influenza vaccines and antivirals.

IDSA Pledges Support to U.S. Ebola Response Coordinator Ron Klain (PDF)

10/29/2014

In a letter to newly-appointed U.S. Ebola Response Coordinator Ron Klain, IDSA President Dr. Stephen Calderwood outlined the Society's Ebola response efforts to date and volunteered IDSA's expertise and resources to help the federal government coordinate the U.S. and global response.

IDSA Urges Improvements to Draft PREVENT Pandemics Act

2/8/2022

IDSA offers feedback to strengthen the ID workforce and combat AMR as part of broader pandemic preparedness efforts.

Sign On Letter to House Appropriators RE FY2020 LHHS Bill (PDF)

3/18/2019

IDSA and over 50 other organizations representing healthcare providers, public health professionals, researchers, advocates, and people affected by substance use disorders urge House appropriators to include at a minimum $58 million for CDC to address the infectious diseases impacts of the opioid epidemic.

Sign On Letter to Senate Appropriators RE FY2020 LHHS Bill (PDF)

3/18/2019

IDSA and over 50 other organizations representing healthcare providers, public health professionals, researchers, advocates, and people affected by substance use disorders urge Senate appropriators to include at a minimum $58 million for CDC to address the infectious diseases impacts of the opioid epidemic.

IDSA Comments to House Natural Resources Committee on Climate Change Impact on ID (PDF)

3/8/2019

IDSA submitted comments to the House Natural Resources Committee on the impact climate change will have on infectious diseases and recommendations to address those implications.

IDSA Comments to House E&C Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change on Climate Change Impact on ID (PDF)

3/8/2019

IDSA submitted comments to the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change on the impact climate change will have on infectious diseases and recommendations to address those implications.

IDSA Letter to Senate Leadership RE PAHPAI Act of 2019

2/27/2019

IDSA urges Senate leadership to bring the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation (PAHPAI) Act of 2019 to the Senate floor for a vote. This legislation, recently passed by the House of Representatives, reauthorizes and strengthens the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act.

IDSA Supports PAHPAI Act (PDF)

11/16/2018

IDSA supports the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation (PAHPAI) Act, substitute amendment to H.R. 6378, which reauthorizes and strengthens the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA); in particular, IDSA supports new investments in CDC EIS and authorizations for new strategic initiatives at BARDA.

IDSA Supports Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018 (PDF)

7/17/2018

IDSA thanks House Energy & Commerce leaders and members for introducing HR 6378, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018 (PAHPAI).

IDSA Comments on PAHPA Discussion Draft (PDF)

6/5/2018

IDSA submitted comments to members of the House Subcommittee on the Pandemic and All Hazards Reauthorization Act of 2018 (PAHPRA) thanking them for their leadership and offering two additional provisions to incentivize antibiotic research and development and to provide loan repayment for health professionals to enter the public health preparedness and response workforce.

IDSA Supports PAHPAI Efforts (PDF)

5/21/2018

IDSA comments to the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee supporting the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018 (PAHPAI) efforts to strengthen our capacity to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.

IDSA Comments to Senate HELP and House EC Re Opioid Legislation (PDF)

5/21/2018

IDSA supports efforts by the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) and House Energy & Commerce Committees to advance legislation to address the opioid epidemic, including infectious diseases arising from opioid use.

IDSA Comments to Senate HELP on PAHPAI Discussion Draft (PDF)

5/3/2018

IDSA comments to Senate HELP Committee leaders on the draft Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018 (PAHPAI), which reauthorizes and strengthens the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act.

Joint IDSA HIVMA PIDS Letter to Congress on Eliminating Opioid Related ID Act (PDF)

3/26/2018

IDSA, HIVMA, and PIDS wrote to the Representatives and Senators that authored the Eliminating Opioid Related Infectious Diseases Act and offered suggestions to strengthen policy solutions for the ID implications of opioid use.

Joint IDSA PIDS Comments to Congress on Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PDF)

2/1/2018

IDSA and PIDS submitted joint comments to Congress on draft legislation to reauthorize the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA).

IDSA and HIVMA Letter Re 2017 Hurricane Season (PDF)

10/23/2017

IDSA and HIVMA wrote to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committe's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations thanking them for scheduling the hearing “Examining HHS’s Public Health Preparedness for and Response to the 2017 Hurricane Season.” IDSA and HIVMA are concerned about the potential infectious diseases risks posed by hurricanes.

IDSA Supports Public Health Emergency Response and Accountability Act (PDF)

11/14/2016

IDSA supports the bipartisan Public Health Emergency Response and Accountability Act, which would provide a necessary mechanism for the rapid and effective distribution of resources to address future public health emergencies.

IDSA Endorses Legislation to Bolster Mosquito Abatement (PDF)

7/7/2016

Senators Angus King (I-ME), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced the Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) Act. The bill renews approval for existing programs that assist state and local public health departments in preventing mosquito-borne illnesses such as Zika. IDSA provided a letter supporting the legislation.

IDSA Recommendations on Addressing the Zika Virus Outbreak (PDF)

2/19/2016

In response to the current Zika virus outbreak in the Americas, IDSA developed policy recommendations on how best to address Zika virus both within the US and globally. These recommendations aim to ensure adequate federal support to strengthen our public health prevention and control, diagnostic development, medical countermeasures research and development, and global health activities. IDSA relayed these recommendations in a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which held a hearing on the Zika virus outbreak on February 24.

IDSA Submits Testimony To Congress Urging Better Investments for Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PDF)

2/3/2015

IDSA Comments to NIH RE NIAID Research Priorities (PDF)

3/13/2019

IDSA submitted comments to NIH in order to provide feedback on NIAID research priorities in response to the HHS Tickborne Disease Working Group report.

Joint IDSA HIVMA Comments to White House NSTC FTAC Response to Opioid Crisis (PDF)

12/4/2018

IDSA and HIVMA submitted comments to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Fast Track Action Committee (FTAC) on Health Science and Technology Response to the Opioid Crisis with recommendations to address infectious disease consequences of the opioid epidemic.

IDSA Comments to HHS on the Tickborne Disease Working Group Report (PDF)

11/26/2018

IDSA provided feedback to the HHS Tickborne Disease Working Group on their report; while IDSA supports many of the report recommendations, there are some key recommendations, if implemented, that would cause significant harm to patients and public health. IDSA is also concerned with the lack of transparency and minimal opportunities for meaningful public input.

IDSA Comments to HHS Secretary RE Tick-Borne Diseases Working Group Recommendations (PDF)

10/22/2018

IDSA comments to the HHS Secretary providing contextual information on the upcoming report from the HHS Tick-Borne Diseases Working Group.

IDSA Comments to the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group (PDF)

6/30/2018

IDSA submitted comments to the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group in response to the Group's draft report based on its discussion at their June 20, 2018 meeting.

IDSA Comments to Tick-Borne Disease Working Group (PDF)

5/3/2018

IDSA comments to the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group on testing and diagnostics, disease vectors, surveillance, prevention, vaccines and therapeutics, pathogenesis, transmission, and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.

IDSA Comments to the Tick Borne Disease Working Group (PDF)

5/13/2018

IDSA comments to the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, supporting the subcommittee's call for: more research on disease vectors, surveillance, and prevention; increased education on prevention of tick-borne diseases and removal of ticks, access to care services and support to patients, and expressed concern with a number of recommendations that would weaken the rigorous scientific approach to the diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases and subject patients to substandard, ineffective, and even dangerous care.

Joint IDSA HIVMA Comments on the Opioid Crisis and Infectious Diseases (PDF)

2/5/2018

IDSA and HIVMA submitted joint comments to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) on the effects of opioid use on infectious diseases.

IDSA Letter to ASPR Re Pandemic and All Hazards Stakeholder Listening Session (PDF)

1/8/2018

IDSA letter to Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Dr. Robert Kadlec in advance of a stakeholder listening session on pandemic and all hazards preparedness issues. IDSA strongly supports the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) and urges the prioritization of: incentivizing antimicrobial R&D, investing in the ID workforce, establishment of a rapid response fund for public health emergencies, and support for global health security.

IDSA Comments RE HHS FY2018 - 2022 Strategic Plan (PDF)

10/27/2017

IDSA comments on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) FY2018 - 2022 Strategic Plan.

IDSA Letter of Introduction to Surgeon General VADM Adams (PDF)

10/27/2017

IDSA congratulates VADM Jerome Adams on his appointment as the nation's Surgeon General, the country's chief doctor and leader of the Public Health Commissioned Corps. IDSA requests a meeting with Dr. Adams to discuss key issues and opportunities to collaborate.

IDSA Letter of Introduction to ASPR Robert Kadlec (PDF)

9/11/2017

IDSA letter of introduction to new Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Dr. Robert Kadlec outlining IDSA priorities.

IDSA Highlights Pressing ID Policy Issues for New HHS Secretary (PDF)

2/21/2017

IDSA outlines a number of pressing ID policy priorities for new HHS Secretary Dr. Tom Price, including antimicrobial resistance, domestic and global public health programs, infrastructure, and preparedness, biomedical research and innovation, and ID physician workforce issues.

IDSA Comments on CDC Proposed Quarantine Rule (PDF)

10/14/2016

IDSA comments on the CDC notice of proposed rulemaking for the control of communicable diseases, interstate and foreign. IDSA appreciates CDC working to codify and increase transparency around practices related to controlling communicable diseases, and provided recommendations as it moves forward.

IDSA Comments on Clinical Trial Design in Emerging Infectious Diseases (PDF)

1/28/2016

IDSA responded to an FDA and NIAID request for public comments on how to improve clinical trial designs under the unique conditions in emerging infectious diseases. IDSA provided recommendations on addressing informed consent, striving for standard of care, and the importance of tailoring a clinical trial based on the specific circumstances of each outbreak as well as the intervention being studied.

IDSA Comments on the Addition of Avian Influenza to the Select Agent List (PDF)

9/14/2015

IDSA responded to an HHS Notice of Proposed Rule Making to add influenza viruses that contain A/Gs/Gd/1/96 Hemagglutinin (HA), including wild-type viruses, as non-Tier 1 select agents and viruses that have additionally made transmissible among mammals by respiratory droplets in a laboratory as Tier 1 select agents. IDSA supported this proposal, and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining a balance between the public health risk of impeding research with these viruses against the public health risk of an accidental laboratory risk or act of bioterrorism.

IDSA Submits Comments on 2015-2018 Draft National Health Security Strategy (PDF)

5/20/2014

IDSA submitted comments to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) on the agency's 2015-2018 draft National Health Security Strategy (NHSS). IDSA applauds the agency's comprehensive approach to national security and the inclusion of "One Health" principles in the strategy, while offering substantive comments on various components of the NHSS most relevant to ID physicians and their patients.