Updates from the Field: Issue 32 – 2022

In 2022, the Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) collaborated with countries to respond to continued challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other health threats. We work with public health experts across CDC and around the world to help countries strengthen their public health infrastructure to protect the health and safety of Americans and people around the world. We accomplish this mission through four goals:

• Increase the speed of outbreak detection, identification, and response, especially for diseases of epidemic potential;
• Strengthen National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) as the home for public health preparedness and emergency response;
• Strengthen local level capacity to control outbreaks at their source before they spread; and
• Build new and strengthen existing partnerships in the field, across all sectors, government levels, and functional roles.

This issue of Updates from the Field highlights DGHP’s successes in strengthening surveillance systems, expanding laboratory networks, improving emergency management and operations, and developing a well-trained workforce with the necessary skills to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to health threats. We continue to make significant strides and implement lessons learned from COVID-19 and other outbreaks through our global health security programmatic activities. But there is still more work to be done to ensure a healthier, safer world able to stop public health threats.

DGHP is committed to the time and work it takes to build strong and sustainable public health systems and build vital relationships with ministries of health and partners so countries can increase their ability to lead these efforts. We don’t know when or where the next outbreak will occur, but we know that through our work, many countries are better prepared today for tomorrow’s outbreak.