Outbreaks: Protecting Americans From Infectious Disease

Outbreaks: Protecting Americans From Infectious Disease

This report examines infectious disease preparedness across 10 indicators in each state of the US.

2013

The majority of US states continue to cut funding to public health and have vaccination gaps that lead to preventable deaths. Other areas of imminent concern are emerging infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance, and the change in infectious disease brought on by climate change. In an emergency outbreak situation, we lack the necessary vaccine stockpile and hospital surge resources to respond adequately. Specifically listed greatest threats include MERS, novel influenza, an accident involving a lethally engineered virus, drug resistant TB, mosquito borne illness, the rise of antibiotic resistance, and deliberate biological threats.