Emerging Infections and Biothreats

PREVENT Pandemics Sign-On Letter (PDF)

IDSA and over 100 organizations sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging them to include key provisions of the PREVENT Pandemics Act, including the BIO Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program in an end of the year legislative package.

HHS MPV Letter July 20

IDSA submitted recommendations to HHS on ongoing Monkeypox outbreak.

MPV Federal Funding Stakeholder Letter

IDSA submitted a stakeholder letter including multiple local, state, and federal public health organizations urging congress to designate a sufficient amount of federal funding to ensure a robust response to the ongoing Monkeypox outbreak.

IDSA Urges Improvements to Draft PREVENT Pandemics Act

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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 Response to HELP Committee RFI on CDC Reform

IDSA RFI Response to CDC Zoonotic Framework

IDSA Comments on American Pandemic Preparedness Plan

IDSA and HIVMA submitted comments to OSTP on the recently released American Pandemic Preparedness Plan.

IDSA Comments to NIH RE NIAID Research Priorities (PDF)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.