At a glance
Disease outbreaks can spread quickly across the world, resulting in deaths, illness, and economic turmoil. In response to these challenges, CDC's Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) is strengthening health systems globally and tackling outbreaks before they spreadꟷ to create a safer world and safer America.
Why It Matters
DGHP's Critical Role in Global Health Security
Disease knows no borders. In as little as 36 hours, a pathogen can spread to every major city across six continents, including here in the U.S.
When disease outbreaks spread unchecked, the consequences worldwide, including the U.S., can be devastating, including the loss of millions of lives and widespread illness. Beyond the human cost, they can wreak havoc on both the global and U.S. economy, disrupting entire industries and markets, impacting jobs, and creating economic instability worldwide.
How well we face and address the next public health emergency will depend largely on what we do today to be better prepared to detect, respond to and contain public health threats.
Who We Are
To protect the health and safety of Americans and communities worldwide, CDC's Division of Global Health Protection is on the ground in more than 40 countries, working with local partners to help speed their response to health emergencies and strengthen the health systems that allow us to stop disease threats before they reach the U.S.
What We Do
CDC global experts are committed to protecting lives and livelihoods, investigating and fighting disease spread, and investing in health systems that help keep Americans safe. Whether it's through accelerating outbreak response, establishing disease detection platforms, training local public health workers, or helping countries strengthen their labs, our experts collaborate with partners across CDC and countries to build and strengthen the core capabilities that are essential for countries to respond effectively to public health emergencies and advance global and national health security.
Every day, in countries around the world, DGHP is advancing the following core capabilities to protect Americans from global health threats:
