At a glance
CDC helps protect communities, advance health security, and foster a safer, more resilient world for all. In a connected world, early action abroad is critical protection at home.
CDC's Global Health Work
America’s first line of defense against health threats that originate overseas
Global health security is national security. With overseas offices in more than 60 countries and strong partnerships built over decades, CDC is the first call when health threats emerge. Every outbreak stopped abroad is one less threat to U.S. communities, travelers, and the economy.
By combining scientific expertise, real-time data, laboratory networks, and trained responders, CDC works with countries to detect health threats, guide response decisions, and stop disease spread quickly, ensuring the U.S. is protected from global outbreaks.
Ina connected world, early action abroad is critical protection at home.
This is what global health security looks like:
- Stopping the spread of deadly diseases at the source before they reach the U.S.
- Developing effective prevention strategies and medical countermeasures, advancing our understanding of rapidly evolving diseases and science, and protecting Americans at home.
- Detecting and containing disruptive global outbreaks, limiting their economic impact on the U.S. and saving taxpayer dollars.
Global health security is a “best buy” for America
CDC’s global health efforts deliver a strong return on investment—protecting Americans, strengthening national security, and supporting economic well-being. CDC’s investments in Ebola outbreak responses in sub-Saharan Africa from 2016 - 2023 resulted in:
- $1 investment in global health security saved at least $4 in U.S. exports
- $10 billion U.S. export losses avoided
- 10 Ebola outbreaks contained
- 120,000 U.S. jobs protected
Prevention
What we do
Addressing health threats abroad allows CDC to understand disease transmission and refine medical countermeasures for domestic preparedness. For example, CDC's efforts globally prevent polio from entering the U.S.
Why this matters
Every dollar spent on prevention saves costs associated with U.S. emergency response, healthcare, and productivity losses—improving the health and livelihoods of communities.
Our Impact
Surveillance
What we do
CDC's global disease surveillance capabilities are early warning systems that allow CDC to continuously track, monitor, and rapidly identify outbreaks that pose a health security threat to the U.S.
Why this matters
Access to global data and early-warning systems provides more time to strengthen U.S. domestic preparedness when a global outbreak occurs.
Our Impact
Laboratory
What we do
CDC strengthens the speed and ability of labs to identify deadly pathogens that threaten the U.S. The quicker a disease is confirmed, the faster an effective response can be stood up to prevent further spread.
Why this matters
CDC collaborates with global partners to reduce diseases that can be imported into the U.S. from other countries, like neglected tropical diseases, polio, and HIV-drug resistant strains.
Our Impact
Response
What we do
CDC's headquarters and overseas offices can pivot staff, public health programs, and platforms to respond immediately when outbreaks begin. CDC experts use deep expertise to stop health threats.
Why this matters
Due in great part to CDC efforts, most people never hear of some outbreaks as they are contained before they spread to the U.S.
Our Impact
Workforce
What we do
CDC trains the world’s leading disease detectives to manage global health threats from any pathogen. These disease detectives investigate outbreaks in real time, identify threats, and prevent them from reaching the U.S.
Why this matters
CDC-trained global public health professionals detect diseases and enhance global preparedness, alleviating the burden on U.S. resources.
Our Impact
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