Planning for Research on Children During Public Health Emergencies

The recent Ebola epidemic exposed critical knowledge gaps about the disease and its impact on different populations, particularly children, which hindered the public health and medical response. For instance, unanswered questions remain about the natural history of Ebola virus disease in young children and its transmissibility in breast milk. Other emerging infectious diseases, such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), remind us that there will always be another pathogen lurking around the corner. Public health emergencies (PHEs) resulting from natural disasters are increasing in ferocity and frequency.¹ How can we ensure that we address our current knowledge gaps to better prepare for future disasters?

Awareness of the need to integrate scientific research into PHE response is growing,² but the discussion of research involving children has been limited. Although several efforts have addressed the unique physical and socio-emotional needs of children in PHEs,^3,4 pediatric research during...