The National Health Security Strategy (NHSS) is the first comprehensive strategy focusing
specifically on the Nation’s goals of protecting people’s health in the case of an emergency. The
purpose of the NHSS is to guide the Nation’s efforts to minimize the risks6 associated with a
wide range of potential large-scale incidents that put the health and well-being of the Nation’s
people at risk, whether at home, in the workplace, or in any other setting. In this context,
national health security is achieved when the Nation and its people are prepared for, protected
from, respond effectively to, and able to recover from incidents with potentially negative health
consequences.