Infectious Disease and National Security: Strategic Information Needs

Gary Cecchine ; Melinda Moore

RAND Corporation

RAND Corporation

关键词: Military Health and Health Care;    Infectious Diseases;    Global Health;    Public Health Preparedness;   

ISBN  :  978-0-8330-3989-7
RP-ID  :  TR-405-OSD

学科分类：自然科学（综合）

美国|英语

来源: RAND Corporation Published Research

【 摘 要 】

The global community has suffered recently from newly emerged infectious diseases and from diseases once thought to be in decline. It now faces the threat of a human influenza pandemic arising from the recently emerged avian influenza H5N1 virus. The pace of global travel, migration, and commerce has increased dramatically in recent decades, elevating the risk of a global infectious disease outbreak. The spread of infectious disease can have significant effects on U.S. and world security, destabilizing nations and regions through direct mortality and morbidity, resulting in staggering economic and social loss. Collection and analysis of information about the worldwide incidence of infectious disease is imperative for the United States to understand and respond to disease threats. This study, conducted from July through October 2005, examines infectious disease within the context of national security and assesses the need for and adequacy of information that will enable U.S. policymakers to prevent and respond to such threats. At the center of this research is a review of the link between infectious disease and national security, as well as interviews with policymakers and other stakeholders to assess their information needs. This report includes a list of sources providing public health information and surveillance of infectious diseases worldwide.