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Protecting Americans. Saving Lives.

In today’s interconnected world, a pathogen can spread to every major city—including in the U.S.—within 36 hours. CDC is America’s first line of defense against global health threats. As an essential component of CDC’s global health security efforts, the Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) works across CDC and with country partners to tackle outbreaks and strengthen the health systems that allow us to stop disease threats before they reach the U.S.

Every day in countries around the world, DGHP is advancing the following essential core capabilities for protecting Americans from global health threats:

Emergency Outbreak Response

When a disease outbreak occurs, every hour counts. That’s why DGHP is on the frontlines, working with countries to quickly detect, notify, and respond to outbreaks—stopping them before they can spread globally or reach the U.S. In 2024 alone, DGHP helped contain more than 250 outbreaks across the globe—protecting health, saving lives, and keeping Americans safe at home and abroad.

Data and Surveillance

To effectively contain current and emerging health threats, countries must have strong surveillance systems capable of tracking infectious disease cases, strains, and outbreaks. Since 2023, DGHP has strengthened over 50 disease surveillance systems, ensuring rapid responses to emerging health threats in over 40 countries.

Laboratories

Accurately diagnosing diseases and identifying new pathogens requires high-quality,effective laboratory systems. With DGHP’s support, 39 countries enhanced their laboratory platforms in 2024, enabling them to rapidly identify and detect emerging pathogens.

Workforce Development

Public health workers are the backbone of global health security—working tirelessly on the frontlines to detect, respond to, and contain public health threats at the source. Since 1980, DGHP has trained more than 25,000 disease detectives in 90 countries, equipping them to investigate outbreaks and stop dangerous diseases wherever they are.

DGHP’s work is critical. Without it, dangerous diseases will spread unchecked, putting American lives at risk. Our ability to fight these threats not only stops outbreaks before they can reach U.S. shores—it strengthens countries’ ability to manage public health emergencies, reducing long-term reliance on external aid, and keeping Americans safe—both around the world and at home.

DGHP - Division of Global Health Protection

Visit our website to learn more about CDC’s work on the frontlines of global health security: https://www.cdc.gov/global-health-protection