A global coalition of 26 countries, including the United States, was launched Feb. 13 to improve international efforts focusing on prevention, detection, and response to infectious global health threats.
The United States aims to lead the way in preventing epidemics, monitoring potential threats to global health, detecting and responding to disease outbreaks, and bolstering partnering countries’ ability to respond to such threats, Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a press briefing.
"The United States and the world can and must do more to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks as early and as effectively as possible," Dr. Frieden said. "The CDC conducted two global health security demonstration projects last year in partnership with Vietnam and Uganda to strengthen laboratory systems, develop strong public health emergency operations centers, and create real-time data sharing in health emergencies. The CDC is committed to replicate the successes in these two projects in ten additional countries this year."
© CDC
Dr. Thomas Frieden
A key element to the initiative is the creation and expansion of international partnerships. Laura Holgate, a senior director at the National Security Council, said that many of the items in the agenda are in line with rules already established by the World Health Organization.
In 2005, the WHO created the International Health Regulations standards, a gauge by which countries can measure preparedness for emerging disease threats and outbreaks, as benchmarks toward progress.
As of 2012, only 16% of countries reported reaching full compliance with the core IHR competencies, a statistic cited by both Dr. Frieden and Ms. Holgate to justify the new efforts.
"In our interconnected world, we are all vulnerable. ... [Infectious outbreaks] are only a plane ride away," Ms. Holgate said.
Despite fears that other nations will not address the agenda proposals, federal officials said the program will put a focus on how each country can bring its health system in line with the IHR standards. And by following the guidelines set forth, the global health community could make a "really big dent" in reducing outbreaks, Ms. Holgate said.
In addition to calling for greater focus on global health issues, the federal government aims to forge stronger interagency ties to aid that could respond to global threats like bioterrorism.
For example, the U.S. Department of Defense plans to innovate in response to bioterrorism, which calls for forming "unprecedented" partnerships with other governmental agencies and channeling resources into U.S. health security efforts, said Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew C. Weber.
And by building efforts within the country, the United States can show other countries new ways to deal with health threats.
"This is intended to be a shot in the arm that will energize and invigorate the world health agenda," Mr. Weber said.
While exact details are not finalized, Dr. Frieden mentioned a number of proposals in development, including a plan to have emergency-operations centers with trained rapid-response teams and disease monitoring labs located every 200 miles in participating countries.
Around $40 million has been included in the federal government’s fiscal 2014 budget for these efforts; Health & Human Services’ official plan to seek an additional $45 million in fiscal 2015.