Table 1 Six key elements to include in investigations of the origins of novel pathogens presented in the global framework
Six technical elements of the global framework |
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• Early investigations include investigations to discover the first identified cases/clusters/outbreaks to identify potential sources of exposure, identify the samples needed to be collected at the source, define the characteristics of the novel pathogen involved for establishment of diagnostic assays. |
• Human studies to understand the epidemiology of the disease, including clinical presentation, modes of transmission, pathology and earliest presence in syndromic surveillance samples. |
• Human/Animal interface studies to identify potential animal reservoirs, intermediate hosts, and reverse zoonoses. |
• Environmental and Ecological studies to identify insect vectors or other sources of infection as well as earliest presence in the environment. |
• Genomics and Phylogenetics studies to identify precursor strains, genomic characteristics, evolution in intermediate hosts and humans, and spatial distribution over time. |
• Biosafety/Biosecurity studies to determine if a breach in laboratory or research activities may have been associated with the first cases of infection in humans. |