India Field Epidemiology Training Program Response to COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-2021

Authors

Sujeet Kumar Singh
Tanzin Dikid
Meera Dhuria
Arti Bahl
Ramesh Chandra
Vaisakh Thandayamparambil Pradeep
Surendra Mohan Prajapati
Nishant Nirwan
Lipsy Paul
Manoj Murhekar
Prabhdeep Kaur
Ganeshkumar Parasuraman
Prashant Bhat
Sheila Longkumer
Kevisetuo Anthony Dzeyie
Pankaj Bhatnagar
Nhu Nguyen Tran Minh
Sukarma Tanwar
Rajesh Yadav
Meghna Desai

Publication Date

12-1-2022

Journal

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Abstract

The India Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) has played a critical role in India's response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During March 2020-June 2021, a total of 123 FETP officers from across 3 training hubs were deployed in support of India's efforts to combat COVID-19. FETP officers have successfully mitigated the effect of COVID-19 on persons in India by conducting cluster outbreak investigations, performing surveillance system evaluations, and developing infection prevention and control tools and guidelines. This report discusses the successes of select COVID-19 pandemic response activities undertaken by current India FETP officers and proposes a pathway to augmenting India's pandemic preparedness and response efforts through expansion of this network and a strengthened frontline public health workforce.

Keywords

Humans, COVID-19, Pandemics, Disease Outbreaks, India, COVID-19, Field Epidemiology Training Program, India, coronavirus disease, SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, viruses, respiratory infections, zoonoses

Comments

PMID: 36502396