Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN)
During outbreaks, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network ensures that the right technical expertise and are skills are on the ground where and when they are needed most.
GOARN is a collaboration of existing institutions and networks, constantly alert and ready to respond. The network pools human and technical resources for rapid identification, confirmation and response to outbreaks of international importance.
WHO coordinates international outbreak response using resources from GOARN.
Highlights
Video
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GOARN partners working in the field
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GOARN partners working in the field (French)
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The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN)
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The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) (French)
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The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) (Spanish)
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Objectives
The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network contributes towards global health security by:
- combating the international spread of outbreaks
- ensuring that appropriate technical assistance reaches affected states rapidly
- contributing to long-term epidemic preparedness and capacity building.
The initial meeting of partners in Geneva in April 2000 brought together representatives of technical institutions, organizations and networks in global epidemic surveillance and response to discuss "Global Outbreak Alert and Response". Participants identified the need for a global network, building on new and existing partnerships, to deal with the global threats of epidemic-prone and emerging diseases. A Steering Committee of network partners is guiding development of the network.
WHO coordinates international outbreak response using resources from the network. WHO also provides a secretarial service for the network (e.g. employment of project manager, support for the Steering Committee and structures) as part of its Alert and Response Operations within CSR. In addition, protocols for network structure, operations and communications have been developed to improve coordination between partners.
Partners
The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network focuses technical and operational resources from scientific institutions in Member States, medical and surveillance initiatives, regional technical networks, networks of laboratories, United Nations organizations (e.g. UNICEF, UNHCR), the Red Cross (International Committee of the Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and national societies) and international humanitarian nongovernmental organizations (e.g. Médecins sans Frontières, International Rescue Committee, Merlin and Epicentre). Participation is open to technical institutions, networks and organizations that have the capacity to contribute to international outbreak alert and response.
Guiding Principles for International Outbreak Alert and Response
Since April 2000, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network has been bringing agreed standards to international epidemic response through the development of Guiding Principles for International Outbreak Alert and Response and operational protocols to standardize epidemiological, laboratory, clinical management, research, communications, logistics support, security, evacuation and communications systems.
The Guiding Principles of International Outbreak Alert and Response aim to improve the coordination of international assistance in support of local efforts by partners in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network.
For more information
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Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network-GOARN
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Partnership in Outbreak Response -
Réseau mondial d'alerte et d'action en cas d'épidémie-GOARN
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Un partenariat pour la réponse aux épidémies
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Worldwide distribution of GOARN partner institutions and networks
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Répartition mondiale des établissements et des réseaux partenaires de GOARN
pdf, 217kb - GOARN partners in the Ebola outbreak and response
- Partners in the Ebola response
- Ebola virus disease outbreak
Disease outbreaks
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8 September 2015
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia -
6 September 2015
Plague – Madagascar -
6 September 2015
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Jordan
Stories from countries
- Ebola diaries: Creating ways to understand an outbreak
- Ebola diaries: Detecting disease on an unprecedented scale
- Sierra Leone: Challenges and rewards of working on Ebola outbreak
- WHO ramps up to address Ebola challenges, to prevent new infections in Guinea and Liberia
- Ebola diaries: Doing whatever it takes