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Disease Intervention										Related Pages
										Disease intervention is key to sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention and control. Disease intervention consists of two main parts. First, it rapidly identifies people who don’t know they may be infected. Second, it helps people receive treatment fast. This stops diseases from spreading and prevents serious health problems caused by them. Highly trained staff known as disease intervention specialists (DIS) are at the forefront of disease intervention work. While DIS primarily work with STDs, they also lend their expertise during urgent outbreak situations. DIS have been used in several public health responses from Ebola to COVID-19.See how the Disease Intervention Training Centers are developing new STD intervention services.Learn about National DIS Recognition Day held the first Friday of October.Access disease intervention training courses, pocket guides, STD picture cards, and more.Explore Who Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) Are and Their Critical Role in Disease Intervention***For decades, DIS have been the backbone of public health in the United States.*** DIS are public health professionals who use contact tracing and case investigation to prevent and control infectious diseases. While they started in the field of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, their investigative skills have expanded to include tuberculosis as well as outbreak responses for anthrax, flu, measles, food-borne illnesses, Zika, Ebola, and COVID-19. They have also provided emergency response support after natural disasters (e.g., Hurricanes Hugo, Katrina, and Michael).
DIS possess unique skills designed for disease intervention and investigation. With skills in problem solving, negotiation, and communication, DIS specialize in:
Public health investigations,
Case management and analysis,
Provider and community engagement, and
Outbreak detection and response.***The daily work of a DIS begins with conducting case investigations, contact tracing, and offering partner services to people with STDs, their partners, and others at increased risk for infection.*** Case investigations and contact tracing involve working with an individual who has been diagnosed with an infectious disease to identify and provide support to people (contacts) who may have been infected through exposure to the individual. Partner services are a broad array of services that are offered to persons with HIV infection, syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydial infection, and to their partners and social contacts. Partner services goes beyond eliciting information about contacts and includes:
Prevention counseling,
Testing for HIV and other types of STDs, hepatitis screening, and vaccination,
Treatment or linkage to medical care, and
Linkage or referral to other services (e.g., reproductive health services, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, social support, housing assistance, legal services, and mental health services).These efforts assist in identifying individuals at risk for STDs, increasing STD awareness, and providing timely treatment.
Over the years, DIS intervention and prevention strategies have evolved to include engagement with community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, public health institutions and associations, and other organizations involved in STD prevention and intervention.
As the health care landscape evolves, well-trained DIS continue to be a critical piece to public health and disease intervention.
							
					
						Page last reviewed:  September 30, 2021					Content source: 	Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention homeSexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Diseases & Related Conditionsplus icon
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis
Herpes
HIV/AIDS & STDs
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
*Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen)*
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
STDs & Infertility
STDs during Pregnancyplus icon
Fact Sheet
Detailed Fact Sheet
Statistics
Treatment and Care
Archive
STD Risk and Oral Sex
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis
Other STDsplus icon
Archive
Life Stages and Populationsplus icon
Adolescents and Young Adultsplus icon
Adolescents and Technology
Adolescents and STDs Fact Sheet
Gay, Bisexual and Other MSMplus icon
Gay Men & STDs Fact Sheet
Preventionplus icon
Guidance During Disruption of STD Clinical Services
Just Diagnosed?
Which STD Tests Should I Get?
STD Lowdown Infographic
Program Management & Evaluation Toolsplus icon
Effective Interventions
Gap Assessment Toolkit
Internet Partner Services Toolkit
Outbreak Response Resourcesplus icon
Congenital Syphilis HAN Template
Disseminated Gonococcal Infection HAN Template
Gonorrhea with Reduced Susceptibility HAN Template
LGV HAN Template
Practical Use of Program Evaluation
Program Operations Guidelines
S.P.A.C.E. Monkey
STD Informatics and Surveillance
Projects & Initiativesplus icon
EHE: Scaling Up HIV Prevention Services in STD Specialty Clinics
Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP)
Disease Interventionplus icon
Disease Intervention Training Centers
National Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) Recognition Day
Resources
National Network of Prevention Training Centers (NNPTC)
STD PCHDplus icon
CDC DIS Workforce Development Funding
Guidance
STD Health Equityplus icon
Community Approaches to Reducing STDs
Sexual Health Cultural Competence Resources
Archive
STD Surveillance Network (SSuN)
Archive
Statisticsplus icon
STI Surveillance 2022
Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project Profiles
Syphilis Supplement
STI Prevalence, Incidence, and Cost Estimatesplus icon
At A Glance
Social Media Materials
Indian Health Service Reports
Social Media & Moreplus icon
The State of STIs Infographicplus icon
Customizable
HTML version
SDSB Contacts
Archive
Tools & Materialsplus icon
Brochuresplus icon
The Facts Brochures
Fact Sheets
Infographics
Provider Pocket Guides
Social Media Resources
Videos and Podcastsplus icon
Let’s Talk About Sexual Health
Safe in the City
Webinars
Widgets
Archive
Trainingplus icon
STD Prevention Courses
SASSI – SAS Training
STD Clinical Slidesplus icon
STD Clinical Slides
STD Picture Cardsplus icon
STD Picture Cards
Treatment and Screeningplus icon
Availability of STI Testing & Treatment Products
Duty to Warn
Expedited Partner Therapyplus icon
Gonorrhea Guidance
Legal Status of EPT
Legal/Policy Toolkit
Laboratory Information
Prenatal Syphilis Screening Laws
STD QCSplus icon
STD QCS Webinar Questions
STI Treatment Guidelines, 2021
A Guide to Taking a Sexual History
Additional Resources
Archive
About the Division of STD Preventionplus icon
STI Funding at Workplus icon
STI Prevention Success Stories
Success Bulletins
Strategic Plan 2022-2026
Fundingplus icon
Funding Archive
Archive For Healthcare Providers For Public Health Professionals Social_round_twitterSTD on Twitter
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