Global Health Security: Protecting the United States in an Interconnected World

Preparedness and response to the threats of smallpox, chemical release and pandemic influenza were discussed at the third meeting of the Global Health Security Initiative on 6 December 2002 in Mexico City. The meeting was attended by health ministers and secretaries from the G7+ countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (US), plus Mexico), and the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection (1). The first meeting, which saw the launch of the initiative, was held in Ottawa in November 2001, and a second meeting was held in London, in March 2002 (2).

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Strengthening international collaboration to improve global health security

Weekly releases (1997–2007) ◽

10.2807/esw.06.12.02101-en ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 6 (12) ◽

Author(s):

R Harling

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

European Union ◽

Global Health ◽

International Collaboration ◽

The United States ◽

The European Union ◽

Global Health Security ◽

Health Security ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

International Initiative

Health ministers met in London on 14 March to make progress with the coordinated international initiative to improve global health security (http://tap.ccta.gov.uk/doh/intpress.nsf/page/2002-0132?OpenDocument). The aim is to better prepare for and respond to acts of chemical, biological, and radionuclear terrorism. Ministers, secretaries, and senior officials from the European Union, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Japan were involved.

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The Chronicle of a Disease Foretold: Pandemic H1N1 and the Construction of a Global Health Security Threat

Political Studies ◽

10.1111/j.1467-9248.2011.00925.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 797-812 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Thomas Abraham

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Global Health ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Pandemic Influenza ◽

Influenza Pandemic ◽

The United States ◽

Global Health Security ◽

Security Threat ◽

Health Security ◽

The Impact

The period beginning in 2004 saw an extraordinary spurt in attention paid to avian and pandemic influenza in the United States and at the global level. A disease that for decades had languished in the ‘dull but worthy’ category of infectious diseases was elevated to a risk to global health security. The securitisation of influenza was not unproblematic. The influenza pandemic of 2009 turned out to be far milder than anticipated, and much of the scientific basis on which planning had proceeded and resources had been mobilised turned out to be wrong. Developing countries with other disease priorities were urged to pour resources into pandemic planning exercises and change poultry-raising practices. The article argues that for an issue to be securitised as a global health threat, it is essential that the United States takes the lead role (or at the very least supports efforts by other leading powers). It uses the Copenhagen School's analysis to examine how avian and pandemic influenza was securitised in the United States, and then uses the concept of framing to examine why this disease was securitised by looking at the prior existence of an issue culture or discourse around emerging infectious diseases, which gained salience after the 2011 anthrax attacks. It finally looks at the impact of securitisation on countries with different priorities.

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Video Script for the United States President Barack Obama at Global Health Security Agenda 2015 High-Level Meeting in Seoul, Korea

Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives ◽

10.1016/j.phrp.2015.12.003 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

pp. S5

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Global Health ◽

The United States ◽

Barack Obama ◽

Global Health Security ◽

Health Security ◽

High Level ◽

Global Health Security Agenda

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Achieving Health Security and Threat Reduction through Sharing Sequence Data

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease ◽

10.3390/tropicalmed4020078 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 78 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kenneth Yeh ◽

Jeanne Fair ◽

Helen Cui ◽

Carl Newman ◽

Gavin Braunstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Global Health ◽

Disease Surveillance ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Disease Outbreaks ◽

The United States ◽

Genomic Sequencing ◽

Global Health Security ◽

Health Security ◽

Bioinformatic Tools

With the rapid development and broad applications of next-generation sequencing platforms and bioinformatic analytical tools, genomics has become a popular area for biosurveillance and international scientific collaboration. Governments from countries including the United States (US), Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom have leveraged these advancements to support international cooperative programs that aim to reduce biological threats and build scientific capacity worldwide. A recent conference panel addressed the impacts of the enhancement of genomic sequencing capabilities through three major US bioengagement programs on international scientific engagement and biosecurity risk reduction. The panel contrasted the risks and benefits of supporting the enhancement of genomic sequencing capabilities through international scientific engagement to achieve biological threat reduction and global health security. The lower costs and new bioinformatic tools available have led to the greater application of sequencing to biosurveillance. Strengthening sequencing capabilities globally for the diagnosis and detection of infectious diseases through mutual collaborations has a high return on investment for increasing global health security. International collaborations based on genomics and shared sequence data can build and leverage scientific networks and improve the timeliness and accuracy of disease surveillance reporting needed to identify and mitigate infectious disease outbreaks and comply with international norms. Further efforts to promote scientific transparency within international collaboration will improve trust, reduce threats, and promote global health security.

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How the Biden Administration Can Reinvigorate Global Health Security, Institutions, and Governance

AJIL Unbound ◽

10.1017/aju.2020.85 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 115 ◽

pp. 74-79

Author(s):

Lawrence O. Gostin ◽

Eric A. Friedman ◽

Sarah Wetter

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Global Health ◽

The United States ◽

World Health ◽

Health Security ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Global Institutions ◽

Health Leadership ◽

Health Organization ◽

The Right

Joseph R. Biden was elected President of the United States during a period of compound crises for global health and security: the worst pandemic in a century, as well as steep reverses in progress toward reducing poverty, hunger, and disease. The United States has been in full retreat from global health leadership, fraying relationships with allies, weakening global institutions, and engaging in nationalist populism that threatens global cooperation to address worldwide challenges. Yet these tragic circumstances are also fertile soil for deep structural reforms. President Biden can both bolster the immediate responses to COVID-19 and its vast ramifications, and spearhead lasting changes to create a healthier and safer world, from which the United States would richly benefit. His immediate task will be to bring U.S. economic and scientific strength to the COVID-19 response in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Biden administration should also assume financial and strategic leadership in bolstering world efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including its singular pledge to leave no one behind. Finally, President Biden should empower the WHO and lead on reforms to the global health architecture to advance the right to health.

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An evaluation of the global health security agenda steering group governance interventions

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.174 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

N E DeShore ◽

J A Johnson ◽

P Malone ◽

R Greenhill ◽

W Wuenstal

Keyword(s):

Global Health ◽

Health System ◽

System Performance ◽

Health System Performance ◽

Global Health Security ◽

Member States ◽

Health Security ◽

Governance Indicators ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Global Health Security Agenda

Abstract Background Member States lack of compliance with 2005 IHR implementation led to the launched of the Global Health Security Agenda. This research will provide an understanding of how the Global Health Security Agenda Steering Group (GHSA SG) governance interventions impact health system performance and global health security. This will enhance the understanding of a Steering Group's governance interventions in complex Global Health initiatives. Research questions: To what extent have GHSA SG governance interventions contributed towards enabling health system performance of WHO Member States? To what extent have GHSA SG governance interventions contributed towards the implementation of global health security among WHO Member States? Methods Correlational analysis using Spearman's rho examined the relationship between governance, health system performance and global health security variables at one point in time. A convenience non-probability sample consisting of eight WHO Member States was used. SPSS Statistics generated the bivariate correlation analyzes. Results Governance and health system performance analysis indicated a statistically significant strong positive effect size in 11 out of 18 and moderate positive effect size in the remaining seven out of 18 health system performance indicators. Governance and global health security analysis concluded three of the governance indicators had strong and moderate positive coefficients. Global health security variables demonstrated weak effects in the remaining three governance indicators. Conclusions This study presents a case for health systems embedding in global health security. Health system performance is only as effective at protecting populations when countries achieve core capacities of preparedness and response to global health threats. The associations provide stakeholders information about key characteristics of governance that influence health system performance and global health security implementation. Key messages This study provides an argument for the continued support of the GHSA 2024 Framework with implementation of global health security capabilities and meeting 2005 IHR requirements. The GHSA SG governance role remains profoundly important in establishing sustainable efforts internationally towards achieving the objectives of the GHSA in support of the 2005 IHR standards.

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