Lab Based Influenza Surveillance/Food Vulnerability Assessments

The mission of the DoD Global Influenza Surveillance program at USAFSAM is to provide an operationally relevant, global, laboratory-based system of respiratory pathogen surveillance for the purposes of force health protection. The program’s network of sentinel sites provides for base-level surveillance both within the continental U.S. and overseas. Overseas sites include military bases and DoD research facilities in locations not otherwise covered by current WHO influenza surveillance network. These locations include deployed sites in Central Asia and the Middle East, where new confirmed avian-to-human transmission is occurring with increased frequency. Information from influenza virus sequencing and overall world surveillance are essential for determining components in next year’s influenza vaccine which benefits not only the US Armed Forces and Allies, but the civilian population as well. Food Vulnerability Assessments (FVA): The Epidemiology Consult Service (USAFSAM/PHR) provides consultant services relating to food defense issues at active duty, AF reserve and ANG bases, Major Commands and HQ Air Force, as well as Army, Navy, and Marine Corps units. USAFSAM/PHR's FVA team provides timely and accurate food defense consultative support. Team priorities include frequent travel as part of vulnerability assessments and responding to customer requests for food defense support services in a quick manner, and timely dissemination of accurate and useful assessment reports. Primary stakeholders are all levels of the USAF.