Key points
- Global health security involves preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats globally.
- CDC works to protect the health, safety, and security of the American people and fight global health threats worldwide.
- CDC’s global staff are part of the first line of defense against further spread of infectious diseases.
What it is
Global health security exists when strong and resilient public health systems prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats—wherever they occur in the world. CDC works 24/7 to protect the health, safety, and security of the American people and fight global health threats worldwide.
In today's tightly connected world, a disease can be transported from any remote village to any major city on all continents in as little as 36 hours. Recent public health emergencies have demonstrated that a disease threat anywhere is a disease threat everywhere.
A world without continued focus on global health security is more vulnerable to the dangerous and harmful impacts of outbreaks and epidemics.
Our top global health security risks include:
- Emergence and spread of new infectious diseases.
- Ever-increasing globalization of travel and trade, enabling disease to spread.
- Rise of drug-resistant, disease-causing pathogens.
- Potential for accidental release, theft or illicit use of dangerous pathogens.
Health Security is a National Security Issue
CDC's role
CDC's Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) leads global health security efforts. The work concentrates on four core areas:
- Surveillance systems to quickly catch outbreaks before they spread.
- Laboratory networks to accurately diagnose diseases and identify new pathogens.
- Workforce development of frontline staff to identify, track, and contain outbreaks at their source.
- Emergency management systems to coordinate response efforts when crises occur.
Building global health security can't be accomplished alone. To accomplish global health security goals, CDC works closely with:
- Other U.S. government agencies
- Ministries of health
- Other entities of partner countries
- International organizations
CDC assistance to partner countries has resulted in substantial improvements to their readiness to fight infectious disease threats.
2024 Global Health Security Strategy
Global Health Security Agenda
The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) aims to strengthen the world’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. More than 70 countries have signed onto the GHSA framework. The United States made a strong commitment to the initial five-year period of GHSA and continues to support its strategic priorities. GHSA 2024's targets are for countries to take greater ownership of global health security efforts and improve health-security-related technical areas.
CDC works directly with 31 countries to support progress toward GHSA targets. This partnership helps to strengthen and sustain public health readiness to contain outbreaks at their source.
GHSA Report
Joint External Evaluation
To measure countries' progress towards meeting GHSA goals, CDC and its partners developed the Joint External Evaluation (JEE). The JEE is a voluntary evaluation process that gives countries a starting point for improving their health security. Countries can use the JEE to identify their strengths and pointing out the most urgent needs within their health systems. This transparent, external evaluation process encourages countries to exchange vital information and work together towards a safer, healthier world.