Communicable Diseases Alan J. Parkinson, Deputy Director Arctic Investigations Program, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, USA

Prevention of morbidity & mortality in Arctic and sub-Arctic populations Focus on indigenous peoples Focus on infectious diseases Arctic Investigations Program Mission

The US Arctic (Alaska) Total Population 614,180 Alaska Native /American Indian 120, tribal governments Anchorage 266,155 of which 36,148 are Alaska Native 22 tribal health organizations 176 health aid clinics 24 health centers 7 regional hospitals 1 tertiary care hospital

Challenges to Health & Wellness-Alaska Natives Health impacts of: – Environmental contaminants Impact on the traditional food supply –Rapid economic change and modernization-“the modern diseases” Obesity Diabetes Cancer Suicides Cardiovascular diseases –Climate change

Challenges to Health & Wellness-Alaska Natives Health Disparities –Life expectancy 64.9 years vs 76.7 years for US –Unintentional injury mortality 3.3 times US rate –Suicide 4.2 times rate for US all races –Cancer mortality is 1.5 times US all races –Infant mortality 8.7/1000 vs 7.2/1000 for US –Higher rates of some infectious diseases :

Challenges to Health & Wellness-Alaska Health Disparities-Infectious Diseases –Invasive bacterial diseases (pneumonia; meningitis) –Tuberculosis –Influenza and other respiratory viruses –Infections resistant to antimicrobials –Food borne diseases –Parasitic diseases –Some sexually transmitted infections

HIV-Alaska Rates of HIV and AIDS diagnosed in Alaska in Alaska residents Alaska are lower than are found in the rest of the US. –HIV 5.1 vs 20.7/100,000 –AIDS 1.9 vs 14.1/100,000

HIV affected people in all racial and ethnic groups. ( ) Alaska PopulationHIV affected

Tuberculosis-Alaska Incidence compared to General US Population Year Cases/100,000

Tuberculosis-Alaska Age of persons with TB: Alaska and the US

Tuberculosis-Alaska Racial Demographics

Tuberculosis-Alaska Incidence by Region SW Northern Gulf Coast SE Interior Anchorage Mat-Su

Infectious Disease Challenges- Alaska Geography –Sparse population, large area, few roads –Climate Poverty –Household crowding –Lack of adequate sanitation services High prevalence of some infectious diseases –Invasive Bacterial Diseases, Respiratory Diseases, TB, STI’s Public Health Capacity –Staffing remote sites, training

Opportunities Well established public health infrastructures –disease surveillance, prevention programs Linkage with national public health/research organizations –International Union for Circumpolar Health Arctic Cooperation –Arctic Council AMAP SDWG –Existing Multi National Cooperatives in infectious disease control US/Canada Nordic/Russian Federation EU networks (EARSS, ENTERNET EU Surveillance) WHO ECDC NDPHS

International Circumpolar Surveillance of Infectious Diseases

International Circumpolar Surveillance Steering Committee Working Groups Surveillance Invasive Bacterial Disease (US lead) Tuberculosis (Canada lead) Birth Defects (Canada lead) Others? Climate Sensitive Infectious Disease Injuries Viral Hepatitis (Denmark) Helicobacter pylori (US lead) Other ? STI’s Research Arctic Council Sustainable Development Working Group

Is an integrated, collaborative, network of hospital, public health, and reference laboratories throughout the Arctic Collects standardize laboratory and epidemiological data Monitors priority disease rates & trends Identifies risk factors for disease Identifies and evaluate potential intervention strategies –Vaccines –Risk factor reduction Monitors effectiveness of the intervention for sustained prevention & control. International Circumpolar Surveillance

Contact Information: Alan J. Parkinson, Ph.D Deputy Director Arctic Investigations Program, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Anchorage, Alaska, USA Thank you!

Characteristics of HIV with and without AIDS cases Total Cases (81%) male 700 (58%) white Median age 34 (range 1-75years) Exposure Category MSM 849 (70%) had Dx AIDS 417 (35% died 727 had first Dx in Alaska