International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID)
Infectious diseases are a global concern. Epidemics of influenza, Ebola and cholera impose significant burdens on economies and public health particularly in regions such as Africa where infectious diseases are still a leading cause of death.
Although progress has been made in the sphere of infectious diseases with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating the number of overall infectious disease attributable deaths falling from 12.1 million in 2000 to 9.5 million in 2012, there is still a crucial need for research efforts and healthcare delivery. Infectious diseases afflicted patients at young ages, resulting in deaths earlier in life when compared with other causes. Multiple socioeconomic, environmental, and ecological factors converge to impede positive health outcomes for patients and their communities. Emerging infectious diseases, of which 75% originate in animal populations and cross the animal-human species barrier, require constant surveillance and reactive control techniques. Further compounding these challenges is the development of antimicrobial resistance, reducing the number of effective treatment measures capable of restoring health. Collectively, these are just a few of the challenges that afflict patients and prevent progress in the healthcare community.
Mission:
Their mission is to support health professionals, non-government organizations, and governments around the world in their work to prevent, investigate and manage infectious disease outbreaks when they occur, particularly in countries that have limited resources and which disproportionately bear the burden of infectious diseases.
Their goals are to:
• Improve global pandemic/epidemic preparedness following the One Health concept.
• Build a global infectious diseases community.
• Deliver high-quality, globally relevant education.
• Facilitate the implementation of practical solutions to the challenges associated with outbreaks of infectious diseases.
• Increase the impact of research developed in low and low-middle income countries in the regions where is has been developed.
• Build infectious diseases capacity in low and low-middle income countries.
• Stimulate science for the global good.