The world is grappling with an increasing number of infectious threats, and it’s essential that the United States strengthens its partnerships and commitments to outbreak surveillance, response, and research worldwide.
As physicians responding to outbreaks globally, we’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of inadequate preparedness. The recent “mystery illness” in the Democratic Republic of Congo highlights the need for swift action and effective collaboration with local health authorities.
The US has played a critical role in building surveillance systems to detect emerging infectious threats, including the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system. Initiatives like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have saved millions of lives by funding laboratories, procuring diagnostic equipment, training local lab technicians, and building robust health information systems.
However, recent partisan gridlock threatens PEPFAR’s future, putting vital systems at risk. The US must not pull back its global presence but instead strengthen its partnerships and commitments to outbreak surveillance, response, and research.
Investing in critical areas like antimicrobial resistance and climate-driven vector-borne diseases will make the US fall behind the rest of the world in readiness. Microbes are impervious to electoral cycles; parasites and pathogens are not swayed by partisan slogans.
The US must remain a leader in global health programs, regardless of which people or party hold power. There is no wall tall enough to shield us from the panoply of global pathogens. By working together with international partners, we can protect Americans and millions of others worldwide from emerging infectious threats.
Source: https://www.statnews.com/2024/12/19/democratic-republic-congo-mystery-illness-malaria-global-health