The Integrated Biosurveillance Branch provides near real-time situational awareness of infectious disease and health threats to military populations within the DOD. Situational awareness encompasses many aspects, including timely detection, surveillance, reporting, and appropriate communication.
IB is part of a global network that maintains key partnerships with inter-agency counterparts that include the National Center for Medical Intelligence, the Department of Homeland Security/National Biosurveillance Integration Center, CDC, the Department of State, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Due to the nature of epidemics and outbreaks, there is a critical need for timely data collection and processing. IB is a "One-Stop Shop" that collects, analyzes, and distributes data and information from reliable resources (NCMI, CDC, the World Health Organization, etc.).
Integrators of Biosurveillance Information
IB has three sections: Alert and Response Operations, Innovation and Evaluation, and Geographic Information System. IB generates several biosurveillance products that include:
- Executive Summaries
- SPOT reports
- Surveillance Summaries
- Weekly AFHSD Health Surveillance Update
As the integrators of biosurveillance information, IB epidemiologists scan and analyze open-source surveillance data, collaborate with partners and other DHA divisions, and distribute the surveillance information via email. These products and more are also accessible in the Health Surveillance Explorer, a mapping application for authorized users.
The HSE is an interactive web-based application created by the GIS section to provide CCMD decision-makers with timely, relevant, actionable, and comprehensive health surveillance information to promote, maintain, and enhance the health of military and militarily associated populations. Such information provides a near real-time picture of military-relevant global health threats, disease outbreaks, and other events of military interest. Additional HSE information is available at www.health.mil/hse.