All SPECTRE News

Proper hand hygiene remains a top priority, and WHO continues to urge healthcare professionals and decision-makers to adopt it as a critical practice for saving lives, reducing costs, and minimizing environmental impact.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and NETEC held hands-on training to strengthen lab readiness for high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) in the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS).

PAHO is calling for coordinated, cross-sector efforts across the Americas to strengthen mosquito control as diseases like dengue continue to surge.

This episode explores what it takes to effectively prepare for and respond to high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs), focusing on the systems, strategies, and collaboration needed to protect patients and strengthen healthcare infrastructure against emerging threats.

The NETEC webinar "Handle with Care: Special Pathogen Waste Management" highlighted the importance of regulatory compliance, planning, and coordination in managing special pathogen waste. It also emphasized best practices such as minimizing waste, proper packaging, staff training, and maintaining clear protocols to ensure safe disposal and protect public health.

Over the past 25 years, GOARN, coordinated by WHO, has supported over 175 health emergencies in 114 countries, deploying expert teams and strengthening local response systems to become a cornerstone of global health preparedness.

The Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, Research, and Education (SPECTRE) program proudly partnered with the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) to host a specialized training for healthcare professionals across HHS Region 6.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and NETEC held a special pathogen training for lab staff, combining virtual lessons on infectious disease protocols with hands-on practice in PPE use, spill response, and lab safety.

The “Prepared to Respond Together” webinar emphasized the importance of constant readiness, cross-sector collaboration, and health equity in emergency response. National initiatives like NETEC and the NSPS were highlighted as key models for strengthening infectious disease preparedness through training and coordination. Learn more about how these efforts are building a more resilient health system.

A measles outbreak in West Texas, fueled by misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, has led to the use of unproven treatments over the proven MMR vaccine. Many experts warn that promoting these alternatives puts lives at risk and undermines public trust in effective prevention.

Africa CDC and WHO have updated their Continental Response Plan as mpox spreads to 28 countries, with the DRC at the epicenter and Africa bearing the highest burden. Despite progress in vaccination and testing, conflict and a major funding gap threaten efforts—read more to learn about the response and how to support it.

Switzerland has confirmed its first case of clade 1b mpox in a traveler returning from Africa, according to UNMC's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP). The more virulent clade 1b is currently driving an outbreak in central Africa, with most cases reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Free, self-paced online courses (1–3 hours) from the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) are available to all Texas residents, covering a variety of public health topics to support lifelong learning and community resilience.

In the latest Transmission Interrupted episode, featuring UTMB’s Dr. Laura Dickson, Jill Morgan and Dr. Henry Wu share crucial spring break health tips, including preventing mosquito-borne diseases and practicing food and water safety. Tune in for essential advice to stay healthy.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has launched statewide fever screenings after a two-year-old girl died from the H5N1 bird flu virus, marking India's second death from the virus. The girl developed symptoms after eating raw chicken on February 27 and passed away on March 16 despite treatment at AIIMS Mangalagiri.

Over two days, the WHO conducted Exercise Polaris with over 15 countries and 20+ partners to test a new global health emergency coordination mechanism. The exercise assessed the WHO’s Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC), which aims to strengthen emergency workforces, coordinate surge teams, and enhance international collaboration, through a simulation of a fictional virus outbreak.

Learn key strategies for ensuring effective respiratory protection and compliance with OSHA guidelines by reading more [here]. Stay informed on best practices for fit testing, training, and building a culture of safety in your healthcare facility.

Listen in to learn how to protect yourself from tropical diseases, which vaccines you may need, essential travel precautions, and when to seek medical attention after your trip. Subscribe to catch the next episode of Transmission Interrupted!

The NETEC webinar highlighted TJC standards for acute care and critical access facilities, focusing on PPE for respiratory pathogens and viral hemorrhagic fevers. Smaller facilities were encouraged to adapt available resources, with an emphasis on hands-on training for PPE competency. For more details, read the full webinar recap.

The CDC updates on ongoing dengue risk in the U.S., especially in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with travel increasing the risk of cases. The CDC recommends using the DENV-1-4 RT-PCR assay for suspected cases and provides new resources for public health professionals.