GLOBAL OUTREACH
Eagle Global Scientific (EGS) provides support for Public Health Emergency Response both domestically and internationally through personnel deployments and remote access. EGS works with the CDC’s Center for Global Health (CGH) via a five-year IDIQ contract vehicle which covers training, digital/print/broadcast communications, and research. Our specialists offer comprehensive public health emergency communication, epidemiology, data science, and diagnostic services for infectious diseases and other public health threats to all countries including West Africa, Puerto Rico, and most recently on a global scale in response to SARS-CoV-2. In 2020, EGS experts are actively working with the CDC’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Joint Information Center (JIC) to reduce the impact of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19).
CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 19 (COVID-19)
On December 31, 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China; this virus is named SARS-CoV-2 and causes coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on January 30, 2020, and the Centers for Disease Control of Prevention (CDC) classified the outbreak as a public health emergency (PHE) on January 31, 2020.
EGS supports the global effort to address and contain SARS-CoV-2 and reduce the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19. Media consultants staff the Joint Information Center (JIC) and consult on JIC strategy and content. EGS’ numerous medical communication specialists work directly with the CDC’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to provide updates via digital/print/broadcast media. EGS’ scientists lead novel assay development to expedite the accurate diagnosis of COVID-19. Our epidemiologists and data scientists support CDC’s mission on site and through deployments, as needed. EGS recruited subject matter experts to provide a cohesive response to SARS-CoV-2 and assist the global public health community with the mitigation of the disease.
EGS provides consultation on scientific and technical issues in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, health science, and related disciplines for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases’ (NCIRD) Associate Director for Science (ADS) team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our Scientific Reviewers are responsible for ensuring the scientific integrity of COVID-19 research, studies, and deliverables. Our highly experienced team includes data scientists, statisticians, researchers, epidemiologists, and infectious disease subject matter experts. Tasks include comprehensive review of internal/external scientific documents (i.e., manuscripts, MMWRs, communication materials, presentations, White House briefings, prevention tools, media responses, website content); contributions to COVID-19 taskforces including those relevant to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC); participation in all facets of the document clearance process; and advising the ADS regarding data analysis and collection. Supporting tasks include scientific and technical writing including the production of reports and manuscripts for publication, assisting with COVID-19 operations process transitions, and the performance of data analysis (i.e., series analysis, study design, Bayesian inference, Markov Chain Monte Carlo [MCMC] methods). Our staff adhere to all CDC review process, recordkeeping, and compliance requirements.
OPIOID OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC
EGS works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state partners to help combat the national opioid overdose epidemic through Overdose Data to Action (OD2A), a three-year cooperative agreement between the CDC and the health departments of 47 states, Washington DC, two territories, and 16 cities. This initiative involves the collection and analysis of a wide range of data to improve preventative measures and accelerate the response to the epidemic. Our epidemiologists and data scientists support research related to Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) via CDC’s Secure Access Management Services (SAMS) network and through expertise in SAS, Access, and RedCAP; additional areas of focus include prenatal alcohol, opioid, and other substance exposures. EGS also provides communication support, data management support, education support, and contributions that support patient safety including clinical support (e.g., pharmacological, on-site clinic meetings).
HURRICANE MARIA (2017) IN PUERTO RICO
Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, as a Category 4 storm. Maria damaged the island’s infrastructure; severely limited access to potable water, electric power, transportation, and communications; and impacted public health on the island including the disruption of disease surveillance and diagnostic testing normally provided by the Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDH).
EGS partnered with the CDC and other federal, state, and nongovernmental colleagues to rapidly deploy to Puerto Rico following the storm. EGS’ digital media specialists developed and refined communication materials and updated CDC web pages to rapidly update stakeholders and the public during outbreak investigations; in particular, EGS professionals were integral to the support of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) objectives and the development of the Hurricane Preparedness Toolkit.
As of 2020, EGS maintains a presence in Puerto Rico and continues to provide expertise in the areas of epidemiology, diagnostic testing, and digital/print/broadcast media in the pursuit of improved Emergency Preparedness for future hurricanes and all related public health concerns in the region.
Pregnancy & Birth Defects Task Force (PBD) – ZIKA
In response to the public health threat caused by the Zika virus, the CDC activated the Zika Emergency Operations Center (Zika EOC) on January 24, 2016. The Pregnancy and Birth Defects Task Force (PBD) is an operational unit of the Zika EOC which focuses on tracking, understanding, and monitoring the health outcomes of pregnant women and their children who may have been exposed to the virus.
EGS was selected by CDC leadership to internationally deploy public health professionals for the Zika response in Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Brazil.
EGS is uniquely qualified to carry out these essential functions on site on a global scale. We meet and surpass mission requirements by organizing highly specialized teams that expertly navigate foreign work environments to function and implement public health objectives at the source of the outbreak.
We provided a wide of array of support to the CDC’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Pregnancy and Birth Defects Task Force during Zika response. EGS’ support includes the follow:
IT and Surveillance
Epidemiology/Data Management
Field-based Laboratory and Microbiology expertise
Communication/message development
Pediatric clinical support
Bio-statistical support
EBOLA OUTBREAK IN WEST AFRICA (2014-2016)
On March 23, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in southeastern Guinea, which quickly spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. The 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic was the largest in history and affected both rural areas and densely population urban centers. The WHO designated the situation in West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on August 8, 2014, and additional infections were identified in Italy, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
EGS participated in the global, cooperative public health response to EVD in West Africa and domestically. Our public health professionals and scientists provided support to WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through international deployments to multiple sites in West Africa; EGS personnel also provided remote support on-site at the CDC. EGS support included health communications, laboratory diagnostics, novel point-of-care (POC) testing, program management, and clinical support. The professionals supplied by EGS remained engaged in the fight against EVD through the completion of the task; PHEIC status was lifted on March 29, 2016.
MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (MERS)
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) was first identified in Saudi Arabia in September 2012 and subsequently found to have originated in Jordan in April 2012. MERS is caused by a coronavirus called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and is a severe respiratory illness with 58% mortality at 90 days. To date, all cases of MERS have been linked through travel to, or residence in, countries in and near the Arabian Peninsula.
EGS personnel worked closely in the CDC’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and in the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) to address this public health threat. EGS health communication personal accurately drafted and disseminated information. Our scientists and epidemiologists put boots to the ground and deployed to many airport/travel screening locations, met one-on-one with individuals with laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS, and performed thorough contact tracing to identify the pattern of transmission and minimize the international public health burden.
PRESIDENT'S EMERGENCY PLAN FOR AIDS RELIEF (PEPFAR)
Since 2010, EGS personnel supported CDC’s International Laboratory Branch (ILB) in their mission to address the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and mitigate suffering caused by the disease. The ILB is the sole CDC implementor of PEPFAR internationally. Our work includes HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and research, and EGS personnel recently reached the milestone achievement of providing training to all PEPFAR countries in Africa. Since its inception in 2003, PEPFAR is credited with saving approximately 17 million lives with significant success in Sub-Saharan Africa.
TRACKING AND CONTAINING PANDEMICS
The CDC’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) works to prevent infectious diseases and other diseases of public health significance from entering and disseminating in the United States. To accomplish this goal, EGS provides a large staff of public health professionals focused on:
Developing and maintaining infectious disease surveillance systems for immigrant, refugee, and migrant populations coming to the United States;
Conducting disease surveillance and outbreak investigations;
Providing leadership and technical assistance in response to outbreaks;
Disseminating health information on migrants and refugees to state and local public health partners through the Electronic Disease Notification system for follow-up care;
Overseeing the Migrant Serum Bank, a collection of anonymous immigrant and refugee blood specimens from which samples can be requested for research.