STRATEGIC PLAN - ASPE - U.S. Department of Health and Human ...

CHAPTER 3: Public Health Promotion and Protection, Disease Prevention,and Emergency PreparednessToday, chronic diseases continue to be significant healthproblems that face Americans. As HHS works to addressthese health issues, infectious diseases have reemergedas a priority for public health in the United States. Forexample, risky behaviors such as unprotected sex andinjecting drug use continue to result in new HIV/AIDSinfections. At the end of 2003, an estimated 1,039,000to 1,185,000 persons in the United States were livingwith HIV/AIDS. xvii According to the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40,000persons are infected with HIV each year. Injecting druguse is also a common current risk factor for hepatitisC virus (HCV) infection. About 30,000 Americansare infected with HCV each year, and about 3 millionare chronically infected with this virus, which is aleading indication for liver transplants and hastens theprogression of HIV in those who are coinfected.Foodborne diseases cause an estimated 76 millionillnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths inthe United States each year. Other known pathogensaccount for an estimated 14 million illnesses, 60,000hospitalizations, and 1,800 deaths annually. xviii Morbidityand mortality from injuries and environmental hazardexposures also continue to affect the health and wellbeingof Americans.Over the past century, public health advances in drinkingwater, wastewater, and recreational water quality havedramatically improved the health of the American people.However, drinking water from public water systems causesan estimated 4 to 16 million cases of gastrointestinalillness per year. During 2003–2004, 62 waterborne diseaseoutbreaks associated with recreational water were reportedby 26 States and Guam. Illness occurred in 2,698 persons,resulting in 58 hospitalizations and 1 death. xixAlthough malaria is technically preventable and curableif recognized and treated promptly, it remains oneof the world’s greatest threats to human health andeconomic welfare. Each year, malaria kills more than 1million people—the majority, young children in Africa.In a retrospective analysis, it has been estimated thateconomic growth per year of countries with intensivemalaria was 1.3 percent lower than that of countrieswithout malaria. xxThe 21st century is also marked by the threat of publichealth emergencies. These threats have become asignificant focus for public health at the Federal, State,and local levels. Public health threats and emergenciescan ensue from myriad causes—bioterrorism; naturalepidemics of infectious disease; terrorist acts that involveconventional explosives, toxic chemicals, or radiologicalor nuclear devices; industrial or transportationaccidents; and climatological catastrophes.Strategic Goal 2, Public Health Promotion and Protection,Disease Prevention, and Emergency Preparedness, seeks toaddress these problems. There are four broad objectivesunder Public Health:• Prevent the spread of infectious diseases;• Protect the public against injuries andenvironmental threats;• Promote and encourage preventive health care,including mental health, lifelong health behaviors,and recovery; and• Prepare for and respond to natural and manmadedisasters.HHS is positioned to address the public health problemsof infectious diseases, injuries and environmentalhazards, chronic diseases and behavioral healthproblems, and public health emergencies througha comprehensive set of strategies. HHS providesleadership on these health issues within the FederalGovernment and collaborates with numerous partnersacross the Federal Government to achieve theseobjectives. These partners include the U.S. Departmentsof Homeland Security and Defense for public healthemergency preparedness; the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Laborfor environmental and occupational health issues; andthe U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Commerce, andEPA, for food safety.Within HHS, multiple operating and staff divisionswork together to develop and implement strategies toachieve the goal of preventing and controlling disease,injury, illness, and disability across the lifespan and ofprotecting the public from infectious, occupational,environmental, and terrorist threats. Key operatingand staff divisions that contribute to this goal includethe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention60 HHS Strategic Plan FY 2007-2012