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APEC-EINet Mission

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Emerging Infections Network (APEC EINet), founded in 1996, is an APEC-approved project based at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. APEC EINet is dedicated to providing timely and reliable information via the Internet on issues of emerging infectious diseases in the Asia Pacific. By enhancing the knowledge, awareness and understanding of emerging infectious diseases, we hope that health, trade, and policy professionals will be better prepared against such diseases and other bio-threats. We also actively promote communication, coordination, and collaboration between the 21 APEC member economies to enhance regional bio-preparedness in the Asia Pacific.

The threat of emerging infections in the APEC community

Emerging infectious diseases are spreading both faster and farther in today?s globalized world. Recent emerging infections, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), have originated in the Asia Pacific and impacted the APEC member economies greatly. Emerging infections are important to our APEC community because:

Health costs--they cause a substantial burden on the population in terms of illness and death
Economic costs--direct costs of treatment and hospitalization and indirect costs from time lost from work, reduced purchasing power, and unfounded trade sanctions that hinder economic activity

APEC EINet?s specific aims:

To provide the latest news, journal articles, and notifications for emerging infections affecting the APEC member economies through our newsletter.
To increase collaboration between academicians, government officials and business/trade professionals concerned with emerging infections in APEC member economies. Our moderator controlled email list serve is intended to notify and foster online information-sharing.
To increase communication and collaboration among the 21 APEC member economies to better coordinate bio-preparedness activities. Examples include the 2002 Network of Networks meeting and the 2006 Virtual Symposium on Preparedness.
To provide online learning tools, such as distance-learning course materials on emerging infectious diseases, at no cost.
To explore advanced networking technologies to improve communication and collaboration between public health sectors among the APEC member economies.