The following opinion pieces address the U.S. government’s new Global Health Security Agenda.

CNN: Why global health security is a national priority
Secretary of State John Kerry, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and Lisa Monaco, assistant to the U.S. president for homeland security and counterterrorism

“…Infectious diseases — whether naturally occurring, deliberate or accidental — have the potential to cause enormous damage in terms of lives lost, economic impact and ability to recover, just as with nuclear, chemical, or cybersecurity attacks. … The United States has made addressing infectious disease threats a priority. On Thursday in Washington and Geneva, we are convening 26 countries to launch a Global Health Security Agenda that will accelerate progress on addressing a wide range of global health security threats. … To achieve this goal, we must work more effectively across sectors and governments, harmonize our efforts, identify what works and measure our progress. We invite national leaders, international organizations and nongovernmental stakeholders from around the world to join us in this endeavor. Our security and the lives and livelihoods of our citizens depend on it” (2/12).

The Atlantic: Why Global Health Security Is Imperative
CDC Director Thomas Frieden

“…With the globalization of travel and trade of foods and drugs, dangerous pathogens that arise anywhere in the world are just a plane ride away. U.S. national health security depends on global health security, because a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere. That is why this morning, the Centers for Disease Control, working in partnership with the Department of Defense, announced that we will be committing $40 million to 10 additional countries to continue this kind of initial rapid response and increase progress toward global health security. … The odds against diseases breaching our borders will be much more in our favor when more nations become capable of maintaining their own health security” (2/13).