Infectious Disease Border Issues Conference: Meeting Synopsis

In June 2011, the United States Central Command USCENTCOM, with support from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center AFHSC and the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine CDHAM sponsored a conference addressing Infectious Disease Border Issues. The conference was hosted by the Royal Medical Service RMS in Amman, Jordan. The workshop was designed for mid- to senior level professionals who were actively involved in Jordan s public health and pandemic preparedness efforts in ensuring the integrity of national borders. The primary objective was to strengthen inter-ministerial level relationships between essential policy makers and share priorities, successes, and challenges in preparedness and mitigation capabilities directed at pandemic influenza, emerging infectious diseases and other public health emergencies. The Infectious Disease Border Issues Conference aimed to a Conduct information exchange with Jordan on medical response to infectious diseases b Build capacity to defend, operate, or maintain essential health and government functions in a pandemicinfectious disease environment and c Enhance inter-ministerial emergency response coordination mechanisms. The three-day workshop was organized into three main themes Infectious Disease Containment and Surveillance, Border Issues and Quarantine, and Medical Reporting and Information Sharing.