The threat agent detection and response system in Georgia: Challenges and successes

The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) is Georgia’s lead public health agency, and is mandated to perform surveillance, detection and response measures for communicable diseases, including those caused by especially dangerous pathogens (EDPs). The TADR program in Georgia began in 2003 focusing primarily on strengthening the overall surveillance system to improve rapid detection and timely reporting/notification of EDPs. TADR has introduced new methodologies and techniques for detection and response to EDPs by utilizing the existing disease surveillance system. TADR priority pathogens include anthrax, botulism, plague, smallpox, tularemia, tick born encephalitis, brucellosis, viral hemorrhagic fevers (Crimean-Congo, Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome).

To improve laboratory capacity, two BSL-2 national and regional level Laboratories have been renovated and equipped as part of DTRA’s Biological Threat Reduction Program. Lab tests of high specificity are now used in these laboratories, and as result the number of laboratory detections of EDPs has increased significantly. New laboratory resources have strengthened Georgian capability to rapidly detect, respond and track public health threats and outbreaks. Moreover, sensitive case definitions, standards for sample collection and transportation were developed and introduced, and an Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS) was developed and introduced under the DTRA/CTR program. EIDSS provides near real time surveillance reporting capability that can be disseminated rapidly to NCDC and affiliated agencies. EIDSS offers an integrated surveillance package for both human and veterinary disease with laboratory modules to track clinical samples and tests results.

Active testing and exercising of the TADR system in Georgia has made a significant contribution to Georgia’s Public Health System. Integrating aspects of the TADR system with existing surveillance systems has strengthened surveillance for all communicable diseases. This talk will highlight the challenges and successes and show specific examples of TADR system implementation in Georgia.