Public Health Studies Research Guide

American Public Health Association Policy Statements

Policy resources.

CDC's alphabetical list of diseases and conditions.

An influenza pandemic occurs when a new flu virus emerges that can infect people and spread globally.

Over recent decades, multiple epidemic events have underscored how highly vulnerable we are to viral threats. Our world is globally connected—and an "emerging threat" in one part of the world can pose a threat everywhere and to everyone.

The Pandemics and Emerging Threats (PET) Office engages with other U.S. government agencies, foreign governments, and multilateral organizations to set policy and support initiatives to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats whether natural, accidental, or deliberate in origin.

To save lives in the next pandemic, the U.S. Government (USG) is committed to preparedness and response efforts, including the development of new medical countermeasures – vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics– and implementation of policies, procedures, trainings, exercises, and plans.

The development of national health policies, strategies, and plans is a complex and dynamic process. Its precise nature varies from country to country according to the political, historical, and socio-economic context.

Latest disease outbreak news.

WHO health topic fact sheets.