Consolidated FY01 DoD GEIS Report

Completing its fourth year of operations during 2001,

It specifically tasked DoD to undertake a global effort

the DoD Global Emerging Infections System

that was characterized by:  

(DoD GEIS) was hailed in an extensive formal

program review by the Institute of Medicine of the

  centralized coordination; improved preventive

National Academy of Sciences as:

health programs and epidemiological capabilities;

and enhanced involvement with military treatment

 ..a critical and unique resource of the United

facilities and United States and overseas laboratories. 

States in the context of global affairs. It is the only

U.S. entity that is devoted to infectious diseases

The mandate emphasized using the DoD overseas

globally and that has broad based laboratory

medical research units as foundation stones for the

capacities in overseas settings. 

U.S. government's international outreach efforts.

DoD was specifically tasked to:

The powerful capabilities of DoD GEIS should be seen

as much more than solely enhancing military health

   ensure the availability of diagnostic capabilities

and readiness or even the health of Americans in

at its three domestic and six overseas [medical

general.  As highlighted in the recent National

research] laboratories   DoD will make available

Intelligence Estimate on Emerging Infections,

its overseas laboratory facilities, as appropriate, to

emerging infectious diseases are a global security

serve as focal points for the training of foreign

issue.  They have the capability to harm U.S. interests

technicians and epidemiologists. 

abroad through destabilizing key institutions,

obstructing trade and human migration, slowing or

To execute this mandate in fiscal year 2001 DoD GEIS

reversing economic growth, fomenting social unrest,

received core funding of $8,000,000 from the

and complicating our response to refugee situations

Defense Health Program.  The provision of the basic

by increasing the demand for humanitarian inter 

programmatic infrastructure that this budget allowed

vention.  They also have a potential association with

put many DoD recipients of DoD GEIS funds into a

biological terrorism and warfare.

position to create strong sources of leverage and enter

into collaborations with other organizations that in

The Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) on

turn provided funding or other sources of  hard 

Emerging Infections (National Science and

support that directly benefited the DoD GEIS mission.

Technology Council 7, 1996) formally expanded

Other entities that contributed resources during

DoD's mission in recognition of the fact that emerging

FY 2001 to synergize with the core DoD GEIS

infections were an internal health care and readiness

investment include the Defense Advanced Research

challenge for DoD, but also because DoD was in a

Projects Agency (DARPA), the Centers for Disease

unique position to contribute to the national agenda.

Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Agency for

The PDD emphasized that:

International Development (USAID), the DoD

Overseas, Humanitarian, Disaster and Civic Aid

  the national and international system of infectious

Program (OHDACA), the Military Infectious Disease

disease surveillance, prevention, and response is

Research Program (MIDRP), the World Health

inadequate to protect the health of United States

Organization (WHO) and its subordinate offices,

citizens from emerging infectious diseases. 

foreign ministries of health, and industrial partners

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