International Partnerships & Programs
Advancing Global Special Pathogens Preparedness
NETEC’s international partnerships and programs advances global health security by leading and supporting collaboration, networking, and knowledge-sharing among global high-level isolation units (HLIUs)—akin to the Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs) in the United States—and other special pathogens programs.
This growing global network of HLIUs brings together health care facilities and experts in high-consequence infectious disease preparedness, clinical management, transportation, infection prevention and control, and response to improve special pathogens preparedness.
Organization & Structure
IPP is guided by an external advisory group of representatives from other national systems of high-level isolation units and a workgroup of representatives from each of the 13 RESPTCs. Through facilitation of virtual sessions with global high-level isolation programs, IPP has engaged global special pathogen experts from nearly 40 countries in dialogue about challenges and best practices in high-level isolation settings and HCID response. In its other activities, including facilitation of tabletop exercises, in-person trainings, and publication of a special issue of Health Security focused on highlighting global high-level isolation programs, NETEC has engaged representatives from over 50 countries.
Effective Approaches to High-Level Isolation Unit (HLIU) Twinning
This guideline offers high-level isolation units (HLIUs) a roadmap for building successful Twinning partnerships—reciprocal collaborations that share knowledge, expertise, and resources to strengthen special pathogen preparedness. Drawing on lessons from 2023–2024 pilot projects, it highlights practical approaches for starting and sustaining partnerships, setting goals, and fostering lasting global connections. Twinning builds relationships that enhance readiness for high-consequence infectious disease response and support national, regional, and global health security.
Enhancing Collaboration Between Global High-Level Isolation Units
A Special Issue of Health Security journal focused on the current global landscape of biocontainment highlights the contributions of global high-level isolation units (HLIUs) in responding to recent high-consequence infectious disease events, describes ongoing challenges global HLIUs face and innovative approaches to addressing those challenges through global collaboration and research, and provides a vision for a future network of HLIUs that can be leveraged to strengthen national, regional, and global health security. The issue features 14 manuscripts written by global high-level isolation unit (HLIU) colleagues.
Global Rounds On-Demand
Global Rounds brings together leaders from global biocontainment units to share experiences, knowledge, and best practices for managing and treating patients with special pathogens. Watch the recordings and enroll in free online courses.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1)
Watch this webinar to hear from experts about the epidemiology of human cases of H5N1 and risk factors, antiviral treatments, and clinical management of patients infected with H5N1 virus.
Bolivian and Argentine Hemorrhagic Fevers
Take a free online course for credit on Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF) and Bolivian hemorrhagic fever (BHF). Learn about the epidemiology of AHF and BHF cases, risk factors, clinical presentations and management, and review a public health program model for arenavirus control.
Featured Publications
2023 Global High-Consequence Infectious Disease Transport Tabletop Exercise
On June 2, 2023, NETEC conducted a tabletop exercise (TTX) to assess global plans for long-range air transport of high-consequence infectious disease (HCID) cases. Key stakeholders from six countries— the U.S., U.K., Germany, Norway, Singapore, and Japan—participated. The exercise evaluated coordination, prioritization, and transport plans for aeromedical evacuation during simultaneous multi-country HCID outbreaks. The TTX was a starting point for identifying long-range HCID transport capacity needs and strategies for improvement.