The occurrence of a seemingly isolated outbreak of an emerging infectious disease in one country can quickly turn into the next pandemic. In the event of a pandemic, we must have a detailed response strategy involving the public and private sectors with appropriate and timely information. Currently, information needed to support early disease detection, disease monitoring, evaluation of control measures, and appropriate response and mitigation is scattered over a wide array of disparate sources and is not shared in a timely manner.

Northrop Grumman has initiated a Global Disease Surveillance Platform (GDSP™) prototype. This platform prototype facilitates rapid communication of information across national and global organizations in order to minimize life-threatening effects of diseases, such as a pandemic influenza. The concept of this platform was initiated in early 2005, and the development is well under way.

We have designed the GDSP™ platform prototype to provide globally responding organizations with real-time access to critical information. Our operational concept demonstrates how interaction could occur in a pandemic flu scenario. The platform combines public health functions and takes into account the life cycle of a disease at the individual, community, regional, and global levels. This is the first global platform that integrates disparate public health information systems. We also have incorporated a visualization process, which provides situational awareness and makes possible real-time analysis and response by enabling users to trace the global movement of disease outbreaks.

The platform will allow for: 

• Early warning identification within the first 24-48 hours of an outbreak event -- notification necessary to prevent and contain crises;
  
• Tracking the spread of a disease outbreak, contact tracing and risk analysis;
  
• Making accessible information to coordinators and responders in a unified way to facilitate a coordinated emergency response;
  
• Enabling the public health infrastructure at all levels (individual, community,  regional, global) to make recommendations and quickly initiate a response to emergencies of national and global concern.

Submitted by:

Taha A. Kass-Hout, MD, MS
Taha.Kass-Hout@ngc.com

Northrop Grumman Corporation
3375 Northeast EXPY NE
Koger Center/Harvard Building
Atlanta, GA 30341
(678) 530-3568

Hilary A. Oliphant, MPH

Hilary.Oliphant@ngc.com
Northrop Grumman Corporation
(770) 488-8193

Massimo Mirabito, MBA
Massimo.Mirabito@ngc.com
Northrop Grumman Corporation
(678) 538-1746

Sharon Burks, MA
Sharon.Burks@ngc.com
Northrop Grumman Corporation
(678) 538-1749