Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, will partner with governments across the Pacific and Southeast Asia to help them better prepare for, and respond to, disease outbreaks.
Emerging and endemic infectious diseases in humans and animals pose a major challenge in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions.
Globally, more than 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic (transmitted from animals to humans), with a 300 per cent increase in outbreaks over the past 30 years. Recent examples include COVID-19 and avian influenza.
CSIRO will partner with nations including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Fiji to improve their ability to identify, track and react to health emergencies.
“Building stronger, more resilient health systems in the Pacific and Southeast Asia creates shared success, prosperity, stability and trust in science,” CSIRO chief executive Dr Doug Hilton said.
“It protects human and animal health; ensures equitable and inclusive health outcomes; and strengthens regional economic security, productivity, trade, tourism and development.”
Guided by regional priorities identified by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and regional partners, CSIRO will begin by helping with laboratory capacity building, biomedical manufacturing training, digital health expertise, and building health networks.
CSIRO will also offer access to its multidisciplinary expertise across animal and human health as well as its facilities, such as the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), National Vaccine and Therapeutics Lab, and Australian e-Health Research Centre.
DFAT will provide $15 million in funding for the partnership, and CSIRO a further $9.2m million, plus access to its researchers, expertise and facilities.
“We look forward to working with regional partners to help them build more resilient health systems, address their current and future challenges, and ensure they have the right tools and training to protect our region from the spread of disease,” Dr Hilton said.
