By Deon Canyon[1] and Benjamin Ryan[2] Introduction Emergent infectious diseases are a constant threat to global health security. Southeast Asian (SEA) countries have been particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases due to their geographic location, population density, rapid urbanization, increased development in wildlife areas, and overwhelmed resources. In recent years, the Indo-Pacific region has experienced outbreaks of COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), H1N1 influenza, avian influenza, and the Zika virus.[3],[4] These outbreaks have highlighted the need for SEA states to have agile national biodefense and biosurveillance systems and strategies.  Arguably, the SEA region is now the frontline for fighting emerging [...]