When it comes to disease prevention and maintaining a healthy force, military public health professionals generally speak a common language.

However, when controlling the spread of disease requires working with partner countries, it's important to minimize the potential for confusion through effective communication.

Navy Environmental Preventive Medicine Unit (NEPMU) 6 supported the Cobra Gold, 2015 Medical Symposium in Lop Buri, Thailand, facilitating discussions on public health and preventive medicine topics that included topics on pandemic outbreaks and the shipboard environment. The multilateral event led by Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC), included nine nations sharing common practices employed during an infectious disease outbreak response.

This was the 34th iteration of Exercise Cobra Gold, an annual multinational and multiservice exercise hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand and developed by the Thai and U.S. militaries, held Feb. 9-20 throughout Thailand. The exercise's intent was the advancement of regional security through the development of a robust multinational force composed of the participating nations and their shared goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region.

"The Cobra Gold Medical Symposium was very impressive;" said Lt. Bowe-Rahming, NEPMU-6 environmental health officer, "The opportunity to partake in an exercise of this magnitude and witness members from nine different countries meeting in one room to discuss and collaborate public health measures to protect people around the globe, is extraordinary and astounding."

The disease outbreak topics centered on the coordination between the various partner nations; an integral process during an outbreak to limit the spread of disease across national borders. Good communication helps doctors and public health professionals understand how to minimize the impact of these threats, keeping unaffected populations safe. Exercises like Cobra Gold familiarize each country with the national emergency operating procedures of their partners to identify and clarify areas of potential misunderstanding. Concise messaging developed through consensus can prevent confusion during times of crisis, such as a pandemic influenza event or emerging, highly infectious diseases.

"Sharing best practices to enhance preparedness, prevention and response to public health issues of international concern will pay dividends in the long run," said Cmdr. Michael Termini, NEPMU-6 Preventive Medicine doctor and the Commander, Navy Region, Hawaii Public Health Emergency officer. "Multi-national exercises like Cobra Gold provide a great forum to collaborate and network with our partners in advance of the next crisis."

Engagements like these support the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Health Theater Security Cooperation plan and the PACOM commander's efforts to build international relationships now, before the emergency. This event will support future collaborative engagements, building on the relationships and understanding gained at the symposium to create a mutually beneficial foundation that supports the overall well-being of populations in the Southeast Asian region. Health security in this region promotes health within the global population that is intimately tied through travel and commerce.

For more news from Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, visit www.navy.mil/.