Global Health Security at the Crossroads

Abstract

Between 2000 and 2016, several new and emerging infections created significant global socioeconomic challenges to health security. Many infections, such as influenza, SARS, MERS, XDR-TB, and others, still threaten many people and communities globally. On November 18, 2016, based on advice from its Emergency Committee (EC), the WHO Director-General declared the end of the Zika virus as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Thus Zika virus, or disease, is now joining the many other infections, including yellow fever and antimicrobial drug resistance, in the category of serious health threats. The United States has been, and continues to be, one of the major contributors to the world humanitarian effort in the fight for human health and security, partnering with other nations to reduce human suffering and interdicting the spread of infections. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the U.S. Army invested significant resources to develop vaccines against yellow fever and other infections and minimize the spread of vector-borne infections. The effective US Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003, and the “Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008” re-authorizing up to $48 billion over 5 years, provided much- needed resources to combat global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. This Act is the cornerstone of the U.S. Global Health Initiative, which provides, on average, USD 10 billion annually to assist other countries in the fight against many invasive diseases. Additional funding to support the fight against antimicrobial drug resistance, Ebola, and Zika have been approved by the U.S. government. On November 4, 2016, an executive order was issued by President Barack Obama to further strengthen the fight against the spread of infections. Section 1 of this executive order notes that, “as articulated in the National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats and Implemented in Presidential Policy Directive 2 (PPD-2), promoting global health security is a core tenet of our national strategy for countering biological threats,” (White House, 2016) as is supporting the goals of the International Health Regulations (IHR). The Global Health Security Agenda (GSHA) action plan centers around three major actions: This is an ambitious plan, relying on partnership with many nations and private benevolent foundations for support, collaboration, and execution. Within the United States, the presidential directive assigns specific roles for each government department and agency to contribute and engage in this activity. Undoubtedly, the U.S. State Department medical officers will play a major role in ensuring coordination and implementation at the countries’ ministries of health level. WHO and World Medical Association leadership commitment to global health security is essential for the success of this GSHA plan. The United States has and will continue to support and engage in the global fight to prevent unnecessary deaths from infections. The new administration is encouraged to expand its engagement, political and economic, to ensure global health security. We encourage our readers to submit manuscripts in this area of research and policy addressing global health security, antimicrobial drug resistance, and pandemics. Finally, as we enter the new 2017 publication year, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our peer reviewers, board of directors, and authors, for all their volunteered time to improve our journal. Special thanks goes to Professor Paul Rich, President of the Policy Studies Organization, and his staff for their support of this journal and their continued care and encouragement.