CIDRAP News: Inaugural Global Health Security Index notes wide readiness gaps
“At a briefing in Washington, D.C., [Thursday], experts from three health groups unveiled a new Global Health Security (GHS) Index, which provides preparedness benchmarks for 195 countries and is designed to help nations fill gaps in their capacity to address infectious disease outbreaks. The initial report found that no country is fully prepared to handle a major epidemic or pandemic. The index is a joint project of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (CHS), the Nuclear Threat Initiative, and The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)…” (Schnirring, 10/24).

Washington Post: None of these 195 countries — the U.S. included — is fully prepared for a pandemic, report says
“…Unlike other ratings, the Global Health Security Index benchmarks health security in the context of tools critical to fighting outbreaks, such as robust health systems, adherence to global norms, and political and security risks, including public confidence in government. The United States does well in five of six preparedness categories but ranks 19th — after Australia, Canada, Singapore, and more than a half-dozen European countries — in an assessment of overall risk and vulnerability to biological threats. The factors driving down the U.S. score include the risks of social unrest and terrorism, and low public confidence in government. Liechtenstein ranked No. 1 on this measure…” (Sun, 10/24).