Infectious & Vector-Borne Diseases
Understanding the intricate dynamics of pathogens and vectors is crucial to furthering effective disease research. Infectious and vector-borne diseases like COVID-19, influenza, malaria, dengue, tuberculosis, and HIV present daily challenges to health systems and community resilience around the world. Abt Global counters these threats to our shared global health security through evidence-based prevention and containment, groundbreaking disease detection and surveillance, and total health-system surge and recovery response stewarded by local government and community leaders. Through a One Health approach, we aim to help our partners build equitable, resilient, secure, and sustainable health systems that will allow their communities to thrive for generations.
Expertise
- Infectious and Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance
- Entomological Monitoring
- Epidemiology
- Strategic Crisis Communications
- Research on Vaccine Effectiveness
- HIV Prevention, Testing, Care, and Treatment
Clients Include
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
United States Agency for International Development
Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Our Work
Leading implementer for malaria control, protecting 5 million people a year in 21 countries through insecticide spraying and treated nets
Award-winning crisis communications campaign for CDC to combat Zika that reached 37 million people in the U.S. and Puerto Rico
Enhanced service delivery and clinical care in Mozambique that increased viral suppression rate to 92% and ART patient retention to 98%
Studies for CDC on COVID-19's epidemiology to inform policy development, using data from 9,600 participants and 78,000 patient medical records
Studies that gather key physical, operational, and other data in U.S. nursing homes to better prepare them for future infectious disease outbreaks
Our Experts
Insights
Spotlight On: Solutions for Malaria, Vector-Borne Diseases, and Novel Pathogens
Abt Global is the world’s largest provider of interventions to track and control malaria, protecting millions of people annually in nearly 30 countries.
What to Know About Malaria in the U.S.
Experts dive into what readers should know about the recent malaria outbreak in the U.S., such as symptoms to monitor and current surveillance practices in place for infectious disease crises.
Monitoring Adult Vaccine Use Helps Save Lives
Abt Global conducts annual online surveys among pregnant people and health care personnel on vaccination use and attitudes toward vaccines.
Association between SARS-CoV-2 Infections during Pregnancy and Preterm Live Birth
How has SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) affected birth outcomes for pregnant persons, and is there a correlation between SARS-CoV-2 infections and preterm live birth? More than three years after the start of the pandemic, researchers are still looking for – and finding – answers. While many studies state that most SARS-CoV-2 infections during pregnancy are mild, others have reported associations between prenatal COVID-19 and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Researchers aim to better inform and advise pregnant persons on the risks of prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infections on newborns, especially as different variants continue to emerge.During August 2020–October 2021 the Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Pregnancy and Infancy (ESPI) study enrolled a cohort of pregnant women at less than 28 weeks gestation at three U.S. medical centers in Salt Lake City, UT; New York City, NY; and Birmingham, AL. Participants were followed with systematic surveillance until the end of their pregnancies, self-collecting and returning weekly nasal swab specimens. Additional swab specimens were collected when the particpants experienced any onset of COVID-like symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc. Those enrolled also provided blood samples to test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies as evidence of infection.Among 954 participants with a live birth, 185 (19%) had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during their pregnancy and 123 (13%) had preterm births. Overall, there was no significant association between preterm birth and SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. While the infections studied in this analysis were predominantly deemed mild and/or asymptomatic, COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant persons remains important to prevent severe infections that may be associated with additional complications.Take a deeper dive into this publication to learn more!
How to Avoid a Respiratory Disease Tripledemic
Getting RSV, COVID-19, and flu vaccinations is the best way to protect yourself and mitigate the odds of an epidemic of all three respiratory diseases at the same time.
CDC / CFA Demographic Social Comorbidities Table (DSCT)
The COVID-19 pandemic made it abundantly clear that the nation’s ability to identify and respond to outbreaks fundamentally relies on access to high-quality and timely data for disease surveillance—especially data about vulnerable populations and…
Abt Played a Key COVID-19 Role Providing CDC Needed Data
Abt researchers working for CDC informed national health policy and science with rigorous data gathering on COVID-19 transmission and vaccine effectiveness.
Spotlight On: Influenza Research
For a decade, Abt Global has worked to understand the impact and prevent the spread of the disease in the United States and abroad, including in low- and middle-income countries.
What is One Health? A Frontline Defense Against Zoonotic Diseases
A One Health approach, which includes human, animal, and environmental health, is critical for fighting diseases passed between animals and humans.
Bolstering Global Health Security in a Changing Climate
Climate change requires adaptive global health security strategies.
The Gateway to Inclusive Health Systems? Localization
Responding to evolving health systems needs and our partners’ capacity requires a shift in approach to be locally informed, owned, driven, and sustained.
