GeoSentinel

GeoSentinel is a 6-year old world wide communications and data collection network of ISTM member clinics that was developed by the ISTM and the US Centers for Disease Control. Twenty-five globally dispersed clinics, called GeoSentinel Surveillance Sites, have been participating in ongoing systematic data collection from all travelers seen at those sites. GeoSentinel has gained wide recognition within the international public health community for its global reach and rapid-response capabilities

As a next step, GeoSentinel participation is being broadened. Members with excellent patient populations who are unable to participate in systematic surveillance but who are willing to more informally provide leads and contacts when they encounter patients having unusual clinical events can now become GeoSentinel Network Members:

For information on the benefits of participation as a GeoSentinel Network Member, please go to: www.istm.org/geosentinel/main.html

We view this as an exciting opportunity for large numbers of ISTM members to link together to help each other. Rapid and global public health responses in the face of possible or established international outbreaks will be facilitated. Time required by individual GeoSentinel Network Members should be minimal but collective output and benefit potentially great.

Sincerely yours,

David O. Freedman, Phyllis Kozarsky,
and Martin Cetron GeoSentinel Project Directors