According to the World Health Organization — “Public health refers to all organized measures (whether public or private) to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong life among the population as a whole” (WHO N.pag). Due to the scare of pandemic diseases such as Avian Influenza, SARS and Ebola virus have compelled the government of the United States to emphasize on public health. Recent surveys reveal that despite the world-class surveillance and diagnostic capabilities, the United States government should always remain prepared for health outbreaks. After the horrendous attack of 9/11, the American government started to marshal both their legal authority and financial assets for combating any potential threats to the public health.
The threat of pandemic diseases are usually considered and addressed in terms of national security. The American system of federalism and their fragmented infrastructure of public health results in the expenses of control plans and measures falling on the local and state governments, with greatly disproportionate impact and uneven effectiveness in a few communities (Price 921-929).
