Edited by Michael A. Stoto
Globalization and Health invites you to submit to our article collection on cross-border infectious disease threat, and the national and global public health response. We welcome submissions on the subject of COVID-19 to this collection. In order to be considered, manuscripts must address health systems issues and fall within one of these categories:
- An analysis or discussion of measures taken to identify / mitigate / control cross border spread of COVID-19.
- A description / analysis of cross border spread of COVID-19.
- A reflection on differences between countries in policy, strategy, and operational implementation of programmes to address COVID-19 outbreaks, including lessons learned in one country that can be applied in other countries.
- Analysis or commentary on issues for which cross border cooperation is required (outside of IHR requirements). Examples: the EUs effort to develop cooperation between EU States regarding standards for mobile phone contact tracing Apps for within-EU travel.
- Analysis or commentary on IHR processes / requirements that helped / hindered national responses.
- Analysis or commentary on multilateral / bilateral support regarding COVID-19 response.
- A description/ analysis of the application of guidance / standards from transnational organisations (ECDC / WHO etc.) within nation states.
- A description/ analysis of cross border cooperation in areas such as vaccine development, randomized controlled trials, data sharing, etc.
This collection is open-ended and will continue to receive papers that address:
- The evolving nature of infectious disease threat with the potential to cross geopolitical boundaries including, among other topics, novel zoonotic outbreaks with pandemic potential, the possibility of a non-state actor developing bioterrorism capabilities, and the emerging threat associated with the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
- The current state of preparedness for cross-border threats to health, and of countries’ responsibilities under the International Health Regulations (2005), as noted by capacity and capability assessments such as the WHO’s Joint External Evaluation tool, after action reports, and other formal and rigorous methods. Reports of this type that include detailed findings on what is needed to improve preparedness levels would be especially welcome.
- The development and evaluation of methods for conducting such assessments.
- Substantive papers about the development and assessment of methods for specific approaches to surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention and control, risk characterization, crisis management, emergency risk communication, and other emergency preparedness capacities and capabilities. Reports based on the performance of such methods in actual practice would be especially welcome.
- The development and evaluation of education and training programs regarding public health emergency preparedness, as well as assessments of current workers’ competencies. This would include efforts that are part of established disciplinary education programs through on-the-job training courses.
This collection is open for submissions of review articles, research, debate articles and commentaries, which would undergo the journal’s normal peer review process and be subject to an article-processing charge. Manuscripts should be formatted according to our submission guidelines and submitted via the online submission system. In the submission system please make sure that the correct collection title is chosen at the 'Additional Information' step. Please also indicate clearly in the covering letter that the manuscript is to be considered for this collection.