DAI-Led Team Selected to Implement USAID Response to Emerging Infectious Diseases

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- DAI has been awarded a five-year program aimed at preventing future pandemics such as HIV/AIDS and H1N1.

The global infectious disease program, called RESPOND, funded at up to $185 million, is the largest of five U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) projects designed to improve local institutional capacity to respond to "zoonotic" diseases--those that originate in animals and develop the capacity to infect humans.

"Even a partial list of recent zoonotic diseases--SARS, West Nile Virus, Ebola, avian influenza, novel H1N1--reveals the urgency of our work at the intersection of human and animal health," said Jerry Martin, Managing Director of DAI's Health Sector. "We're honored to implement this critically important program and excited to play a leadership role in responding to the next pandemic threat."

DAI leads a distinguished RESPOND team including the University of Minnesota, Tufts University, Training Resources Group, Inc., and Ecology and Environment, Inc.

This multidisciplinary team will build the capacity of national institutions of animal and public health to address emerging zoonotic diseases in designated "hot spot" regions. The project will be based in Washington, D.C., with possible field work implemented in regional hub offices across the Congo Basin, Southeast Asia, the Amazon Basin, and the Gangetic Plain.

Combining animal and human health epidemiology and disease surveillance, RESPOND will employ an integrated approach that unites physicians, public health officials, veterinarians, and the private sector to combat emerging disease on a global scale. The program will focus on long-term field epidemiology training, short-term in-service training, and academic preparation for health professionals. The program will also seek to identify and counter outbreaks while they are still within animal populations, as well as strengthen the capacity to respond to outbreaks within human communities.

RESPOND will be led by DAI's David Elkins, an epidemiologist and public health specialist with 25 years of field experience, including 20 years in Southeast Asia, the Gangetic Plain, and East Africa. Dr. Elkins has led numerous projects for international development organizations.

DAI is a recognized leader in the zoonotic disease arena. The firm currently manages two major USAID projects to control and prevent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI): the worldwide Stamping Out Pandemic and Avian Influenza (STOP AI) and the Indonesia Community-Based Avian Influenza Control (CBAIC) programs, which train animal and public health workers, mobilize communities for disease surveillance and reporting, support HPAI outbreak response, and facilitate private sector partnerships to limit virus transmission in domestic animal production systems.

For more information, contact:

Steven O'Connor
Director of Communications
Steven_O'Connor@dai.com
301.771.7834

About DAI

DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients' most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including HIV/AIDS and avian influenza control, crisis mitigation and stability operations, agriculture and agribusiness, democratic governance and public sector management, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change.

DAI's Health Sector harnesses the skills of public and animal health specialists, private sector development experts, microfinance practitioners, water resource managers, communications professionals, governance experts, and our agriculture and agribusiness staff to address current and emerging health threats. In marshalling these resources, DAI is taking a leadership role at the crucial intersection where human health, animal health, and economic development come together.