Discover Background Data and Resources:

• Get introduced to NETEC through the interactive timeline of special pathogens below.* This timeline describes some significant special pathogen events in recent history.

• Find out more about the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the development of the ASPR/CDC-supported network of healthcare facilities preparing for the next outbreak through the Ebola timeline.

• This NETEC Repository helps to provide training and educational resources to prepare for future special pathogen events.

• Explore the files BELOW THE TIMELINE to discover and learn more about Ebola and other Special Pathogens, an overview of special pathogens, clinically managing patients affected, and readying healthcare teams and systems to keep everyone safe.

Timeline of Special Pathogens:

*Click for a screen reader accessible table of this timeline.

Collection Resources

• Efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of a plant-derived, quadrivalent, virus-like particle influenza vaccine in adults (18–64 years) and older adults (≥65 years): two multicentre, randomised phase 3 trials

  Tags Flu, Influenza, R-Lab, R-Res&Pub, Research, Vaccine Study
  Creator: Ward, Brian J., Alexander Makarkov, Annie Séguin, Stéphane Pillet, Sonia Trépanier, Jiwanjeet Dhaliwall, Michael D. Libman, Timo Vesikari, and Nathalie Landry.
  Subject: Laboratory
  Item Type: Publication
  Date Last Updated: 2020-10-13
  Description: Seasonal influenza remains a substantial public health threat despite the availability of egg-derived and other vaccines. Plant-based manufacturing might address some of the limitations of current vaccines. We describe two phase 3 efficacy studies of…

• Longitudinal antibody and T cell responses in Ebola virus disease survivors and contacts: an observational cohort study

  Tags Ebola, Immunology, R-Res&Pub, Research, Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
  Creator: Thom, Ruth, Thomas Tipton, Thomas Strecker, Yper Hall, Joseph Akoi Bore, Piet Maes, Fara Raymond Koundouno, Sarah Katharina Fehling, Verena Krähling, Kimberley Steeds, Anitha Varghese, Graham Bailey, Mary Matheson, Moussa Coné, Balla Moussa Keita,…
  Subject: Research
  Item Type: Publication
  Date Last Updated: 2020-10-13
  Description: The 2013–16 Ebola virus disease epidemic in west Africa caused international alarm due to its rapid and extensive spread resulting in a significant death toll and social unrest within the affected region. The large number of cases provided an…

• Interferon Beta-1b and Lopinavir–Ritonavir for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

  Tags Laboratory Testing, MERS-CoV, R-Lab, R-Res&Pub, Therapeutics, Treatment and Care
  Creator: Arabi, Yaseen M., Ayed Y. Asiri, Abdullah M. Assiri, Hanan H. Balkhy, Ali Al Bshabshe, Majed Al Jeraisy, Yasser Mandourah, Mohamed H. A. Azzam, Abdulhadi M. Bin Eshaq, Sameera Al Johani, Shmeylan Al Harbi, Hani A. A. Jokhdar, Ahmad M. Deeb, Ziad A.…
  Subject: Laboratory
  Item Type: Publication
  Date Last Updated: 2020-10-07
  Description: Whether combined treatment with recombinant interferon beta-1b and lopinavir–ritonavir reduces mortality among patients hospitalized with Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is unclear.
• 

  Serosurvey on healthcare personnel caring for patients with Ebola virus disease and Lassa virus in the United States

  Tags Ebola, Example, Healthcare Worker Monitoring, Laboratory Testing, Lassa, Occupational Exposure, Occupational Health, R-PM, R-Res&Pub, Viral Hemorrhagic Fever, Virology
  Creator: Kraft, Colleen S., Aneesh K. Mehta, Jay B. Varkey, G. Marshall Lyon, Sharon Vanairsdale, Sonia Bell, Eileen M. Burd, Mary Elizabeth Sexton, Leslie Anne Cassidy, Patricia Olinger, Kalpana Rengarajan, Vanessa N. Raabe, Emily Davis, Scott Henderson,…
  Subject: Personnel Management
  Item Type: Publication
  Date Last Updated: 2020-04
  Description: Healthcare personnel (HCP) were recruited to provide serum samples, which were tested for antibodies against Ebola or Lassa virus to evaluate for asymptomatic seroconversion.

  Example only: NETEC provides this item for reference purposes but does not endorse its content. Newer versions may be in place at the providing institution.

• Respiratory consequences of N95-type Mask usage in pregnant healthcare workers—a controlled clinical study

  Tags Flu, Healthcare Worker Safety, Infection Prevention and Control, Influenza, Mask, Masks, N95, Not updated, Occupational Health, Pregnancy, R-Res&Pub, R-SP, Respiratory Pathogen
  Creator: Tong, P. S., A. S. Kale, K. Ng, A. P. Loke, M. A. Choolani, C. L. Lim, Y. H. Chan, Y. S. Chong, P. A. Tambyah, and E. L. Yong.
  Subject: Personnel Management
  Item Type: Publication
  Date Last Updated: 2015-11-16
  Description: Outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases have led to guidelines recommending the routine use of N95 respirators for healthcare workers, many of whom are women of childbearing age. The respiratory effects of prolonged respirator use on pregnant women…
• 

  Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation of influenza-contaminated N95 filtering facepiece respirators

  Tags Decontamination, N95, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), R-PPE, R-Res&Pub, Respiratory Pathogen
  Creator: Mills, Devin, Delbert A. Harnish, Caryn Lawrence, Megan Sandoval-Powers, and Brian K. Heimbuch.
  Subject: Infection Control
  Item Type: Publication
  Date Last Updated: 2018-04-17
  Description: Safe and effective decontamination and reuse of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) has the potential to significantly extend FFR holdings, mitigating a potential shortage due to an influenza pandemic or other pandemic events.
• 

  Evaluation of Minnesota and Illinois hospital respiratory protection programs and health care worker respirator use.

  Tags Airborne Transmission, Mask, Masks, N95, Occupational Exposure, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), R-PPE, R-Res&Pub, Respiratory Pathogen
  Creator: Brosseau, Lisa M., Lorraine M. Conroy, Margaret Sietsema, Kari Cline, and Kara Durski.
  Subject: Infection Control
  Item Type: Publication
  Date Last Updated: 2015
  Description: The objective of this study was to assess respiratory protection programs for aerosol-transmissible diseases in acute care hospitals for conformance with regulatory requirements and public health guidelines.

• Guidance on the use of respiratory and facial protection equipment.

  Tags Airborne Transmission, Guidance Document, Mask, Masks, N95, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), R-PPE, R-Res&Pub, Respiratory Pathogen
  Creator: Coia, J. E., L. Ritchie, A. Adisesh, C. Makison Booth, C. Bradley, D. Bunyan, G. Carson, C. Fry, P. Hoffman, D. Jenkins, N. Phin, B. Taylor, J. S. Nguyen-Van-Tam, and M. Zuckerman.
  Subject: Infection Control
  Item Type: Publication
  Date Last Updated: 2013-11
  Description: Infectious micro-organisms may be transmitted by a variety of routes, and some may be spread by more than one route.
• 

  Healthcare personnel exposure in an emergency department during influenza season

  Tags Airborne Transmission, Flu, Infection Prevention and Control, Influenza, N95, Occupational Exposure, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), R-PPE, R-Res&Pub, Respiratory Pathogen
  Creator: Rule, Ana M., Otis Apau, Steven H. Ahrenholz, Scott E. Brueck, William G. Lindsley, Marie A. de Perio, John D. Noti, Ronald E. Shaffer, Richard Rothman, Alina Grigorovitch, Bahar Noorbakhsh, Donald H. Beezhold, Patrick L. Yorio, Trish M. Perl, and…
  Subject: Infection Control
  Item Type: Publication
  Date Last Updated: 2018-08-31
  Description: Healthcare personnel are at high risk for exposure to influenza by direct and indirect contact, droplets and aerosols, and by aerosol generating procedures.
• 

  Efficacy of face shields against cough aerosol droplets from a cough simulator

  Tags Airborne Transmission, Infection Prevention and Control, Mask, Masks, N95, Occupational Exposure, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), R-PPE, R-Res&Pub, Respiratory Pathogen
  Creator: Lindsley, William G., John D. Noti, Francoise M. Blachere, Jonathan V. Szalajda, and Donald H. Beezhold.
  Subject: Research
  Item Type: Publication
  Date Last Updated: 2014
  Description: Health care workers are exposed to potentially infectious airborne particles while providing routine care to coughing patients.