The CDC and Global Health Protection in an Interconnected World

Today’s world of increasing interconnectivity and mobility accelerates the shared global risk to human health and well-being; a pathogen from a remote village can reach major cities on all continents within 36 hours. To address this threat, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) brings unique technical expertise, capabilities, and decades of experience to its role in protecting people from global infectious diseases. Captain Nancy Knight, who leads the CDC’s Division of Global Health Protection and spent a decade overseas with the CDC, provided an overview of how the agency works directly with other countries to address vulnerabilities in their ability to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks. Using country case studies and data, she illustrated the progress made in health security over the last few years, as well as the gaps that remain. From the economic impact of pandemics to the national security implications of lax biosafety, she offered a unique perspective on the ways in which the CDC helps protect the health, safety, and security of people around the world.

This event was a part of the Global Health Security Seminar Series, which is co-sponsored by Georgetown’s Center for Global Health Science and Security and the Global Health Initiative.

Link to slides
Link to video recording of the seminar