Publication

This white paper outlines the context for revising the International Health Regulations (IHR), describes the building blocks for global disease detection and response capabilities, and discusses the implications of the revised IHR for the United States as a domestic obligation and a platform for global health engagement. The purpose of this paper is to provide a basic framework for understanding the background and status of the regulations. This includes a brief historical overview of international public health cooperation, as well as the practical and political challenges to forging a truly global network for public health surveillance and response today.