Why Is Global Health Important
Global health plays an increasingly crucial role in global security of the U.S. population. As the world and its economies become increasingly globalized, including extensive international travel and commerce, it is necessary to think about health in a global context. Rarely a week goes by without a headline about the emergence or re-emergence of an infectious disease or order health threat somewhere in the world. The 2007 world Health Report External Web site Policy notes that, “since the 1970, newly emerging diseases have been identified at the unprecedented rate of one or more per year.” The Institute of Medicine’s 2003 report Microbial Threats to Health External Web Site Policy stresses that the United Stresses should enhance the global capacity for responding to infectious disease threats and should take leadership role in promoting a comprehensive, global, real-time infectious disease surveillance system.