The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) through its Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) programme provides a model for field epidemiology training programmes (FETPs) and has spawned FETPs worldwide. The unique training provided by FETPs equips graduates to respond to public health emergencies in the field, including establishing surveillance and investigating outbreaks of disease. The EIS and other FETPs have well established networks of alumni that provide capacity for responding to public health disasters.