Our Impact | Global Health | CDC Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search An official website of the United States government Here's how you know Official websites use .gov .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS lock ) or means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Our Impact Feb. 20, 2026 What to know The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people in the United States and around the world by preventing, detecting, and responding to disease threats—anytime and anywhere. Our strategic approach CDC's global work strengthens the knowledge, systems, and partnerships needed to find and face all types of health challenges across the world and in America. No matter the threat, we know we need the right data and surveillance, laboratories, workforce and institutions, prevention and response, innovation and research, and policy, communications, and diplomacy For instance, when COVID-19 struck, many countries relied heavily on core laboratory and workforce capabilities built through CDC's prior investments in HIV, TB, antimicrobial resistance, enteric diseases, and global immunization and global influenza programs. And the benefit goes both ways. For example, next-generation sequencing and wastewater surveillance capabilities grown during the pandemic are now being used for other diseases, such as monkeypox and bird flu. By leveraging the full benefit of everything we build globally, we help people in the United States and around the world live healthier, safer, and longer lives. 2024 Annual Report Read our 2024 annual report for stories, highlights, and impacts. Data & surveillance CDC is ensuring interoperable data and surveillance systems that detect, identify, and monitor disease threats and produce high quality, timely data to inform public health action. CDC is charged with protecting people around the world from a vast number of diseases and conditions, as well as being prepared for the unknown, every day. CDC’s global data and surveillance work aims to ensure that countries can collect, analyze, visualize, use, and share high quality data on any disease or condition that impacts health. Public health surveillance provides an ongoing picture of the patterns of disease, which is critical to protecting people from existing and emerging threats. In 2024, CDC strengthened core data and surveillance capabilities to find and face emerging and re-emerging health threats. By the numbers Event-based surveillance 30+ global health threats monitored each day through CDC's event-based surveillance system in 2024 Antimicrobial resistance 70+ countries working with CDC to track the presence of and increases in antimicrobial resistance , and improve antibiotic and antifungal use Respiratory diseases 120+ countries working with CDC to monitor for increases in – or variants of – respiratory diseases Keep Reading Data & Surveillance Laboratory CDC is building public health laboratory systems that rapidly and accurately detect, track, and inform public health action. Laboratories help confirm the presence of disease, pinpoint the cause of illness, and guide the right response to outbreaks. CDC’s global laboratory work supports these capabilities by training skilled workers, improving diagnostics and specimen transport systems, and increasing biosafety and biosecurity. The goal is to ensure pathogens can be accurately tested and identified with a fast turnaround, so the right actions can be taken to contain the threat. In 2024, CDC improved core laboratory capabilities critical for detection and action on high-priority pathogens. By the numbers Pathogen detection 190 countries working with CDC to strengthen laboratory detection of vaccine-preventable diseases and emerging pathogens Molecular testing capacity 1800+ laboratories and clinical sites working with CDC to strengthen molecular testing capacity for HIV, TB, and other diseases Laboratory leadership 41 countries applying CDC training and resources to empower laboratory leadership and strengthen national public health laboratories Keep Reading Laboratory Workforce & institutions CDC is training and developing a multisectoral global health workforce and coordinated essential public health services to prevent, detect, and respond to disease threats and integrate national public health functions. In a crisis, the most important asset a country can have is people who know what to do. CDC’s global work to strengthen workforce and institutions bolsters the epidemiology, clinical, and laboratory workforce needed for today’s and tomorrow’s threats. Alongside partner countries, CDC is improving skills, building leadership, and supporting the institutions that house all of this expertise, creating a robust network of professionals who are ready to respond to whatever comes next. In 2024, CDC empowered a network of epidemiology, clinical, and laboratory professionals to tackle present and future threats. By the numbers Disease detectives 182 CDC-trained disease detectives responding to Rwanda's first-ever Marburg virus outbreak National Public Health Institutes 32 countries and 5 regions partnering with CDC to develop and strengthen their own National Public Health Institutes Emergency responders 3200+ CDC experts trained and ready to engage in domestic and international emergency responses Keep Reading Workforce & Institutions Prevention & response CDC is developing systems, tools, and processes that enhance response to public health emergencies including implementation of prevention and mitigation strategies and countermeasures to prevent transmission and treat diseases. Disease knows no borders, as clearly demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic, detections of polio in previously polio-free areas, and outbreaks of monkeypox and Ebola. CDC’s prevention and response work ensures that people have access to immunizations and non-pharmaceutical interventions to stay healthy. It also ensures countries have essential systems to act fast in any crisis, such as emergency operations centers staffed with skilled and ready responders. In 2024, CDC tackled frequent, complex, and long-lasting public health emergencies and took action to keep people healthy and safe. By the numbers Vaccine preventable outbreaks 44 countries assisted by CDC immunization experts to respond to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, Ebola, monkeypox, and cholera 7-1-7 approach 26 countries working with CDC to identify barriers and solutions to ensure outbreaks can be detected in less than 7 days, reported in 1 day, and responded to within 7 days, using the 7-1-7 approach Readiness and response skills 11,000+ country staff trained by CDC in 2024 on readiness and response capabilities like field epidemiology, infection prevention and control, serology, and disease surveillance Keep Reading Prevention & Response Innovation & research CDC supports research, implementation science, and public health evaluations to inform best practices for preventing diseases and countering health threats. Research and innovation drive public health forward, extending the ability to protect people’s lives and livelihoods, no matter where they live. CDC’s global research and innovation work includes understanding why outbreaks are happening – uncovering who is getting sick, where, and why – and development of new diagnostics and assays that strengthen public health for generations to come. In 2024, CDC pushed public health forward, protecting people's lives and livelihoods. By the numbers Wastewater surveillance global regions collaborating with CDC to scale up wastewater and environmental surveillance platforms for early outbreak warning Malaria vaccines 20 countries in Africa planning for roll out of malaria vaccines developed in partnership with CDC Data modernization 10 countries in the Americas, Africa, and Asia partnering with CDC to expand, integrate, and automate the data needed for public health responses Keep Reading Innovation & Research Policy, communications & diplomacy CDC aims to foster health diplomacy by building relationships that promote the use of evidence-based public health policy, communicate risk, and disseminate prevention messages in response to health threats. CDC’s global policy, communication, and diplomacy efforts focus on translating data into public health action, ensuring people have the right information at the right time, and increasing trusted partnerships and diplomatic relationships that drive global health success. In 2024, CDC drove evidence-based decisions, clear communication, and relationships that expand respect and trust. By the numbers HIV resources 1,000 partners in 105 countries using CDC's U=U resource guide to promote consistent HIV treatment that helps stop the spread Legal preparedness 560 public health officials trained on international public health law and methods for enhancing legal preparedness across CDC, regional, and partner networks Global Health Security 100 countries around the world working in partnership with CDC and the U.S. through the U.S. Global Health Security Strategy Keep Reading Policy, Communications & Diplomacy Related links Annual Report 2024 Read CDC’s 2024 global health annual report to learn about our stories, highlights, and impacts. Jan. 15, 2025 Our Global Presence CDC has a network of country and regional offices in over 60 countries. Feb. 18, 2026 On This Page Our strategic approach Data & surveillance Laboratory Workforce & institutions Prevention & response Innovation & research Policy, communications & diplomacy Related links Feb. 20, 2026 Sources Share Syndicate Content Source: Global Health Center Global Health CDC's Global Health Center works 24/7 to reduce illness and respond to health threats worldwide. View All About the Global Health Center A-Z Index Leadership Divisions and Offices Communication Materials Reports and Publications Annual Report 2024 Success Stories Careers Our Global Presence Regional Offices Global Health Observances Our Newsletter View All Sign up for Email Updates