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Global Trends in HIV/AIDS [Updated August 15, 2019]
From the Document: "According to the Joint U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), more than 75 million people have been infected with the HIV virus since 1996, when the pandemic began. At the end of 2018, 38 million people were living with HIV/AIDS, including 2.1 million children younger than 15 years. The same year, 770,000 people died of HIV-related illnesses, and 1.7 million people were newly infected with HIV. Globally, an estimated one out of four people infected with HIV do not know they have it. In 2018, an estimated 79% of people living with HIV knew their status."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.
2019-08-15
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Novel Coronavirus 2019: Global Implications and Responses [Updated February 20, 2020]
From the Overview: "On December 31, 2019, China's government notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of patients with pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan, capital of the central Chinese province of Hubei. On January 7, 2020, Chinese scientists isolated a previously unknown coronavirus in the patients, and on January 12, the scientists made its genetic sequence available to WHO and international partners. WHO initially named the virus 2019- nCoV and later renamed it severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus can cause a disease in humans that WHO is calling coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Lawrence, Susan V.; Tharakan, Sara M. . . .
2020-02-20
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Global Trends in HIV/AIDS [Updated October 10, 2019]
From the Document: "According to the Joint U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), more than 75 million people have been infected with the HIV virus since 1996, when the pandemic began. At the end of 2018, 38 million people were living with HIV/AIDS, including 2.1 million children younger than 15 years. The same year, 770,000 people died of HIV-related illnesses, and 1.7 million people were newly infected with HIV. Globally, an estimated one out of four people infected with HIV do not know they have it. In 2018, an estimated 79% of people living with HIV knew their status."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.
2019-10-10
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Global Vaccination: Trends and U.S. Role [October 18, 2019]
From the Document: "For more than 50 years, the United States has taken an interest in the eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in children worldwide, as well as vaccine research and development, particularly since playing a vital role in the global campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1960s. Since then, vaccinating children against VPDs has been a major U.S. foreign policy effort. Vaccinations are one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent infectious disease and associated morbidity and mortality. According to UNICEF [United Nations Children's Fund], immunizations save around 3 million lives per year. As of 2019, VPDs continue to cause high levels of morbidity (illness) and mortality (death), and the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that the adoption of new vaccines by low- and middle-income countries (which often have the highest disease burdens) has been slower than in high-income countries. Receiving a vaccination during childhood can protect the recipient from VPDs, decrease the spread of related diseases, and improve child survival prospects (as children, particularly those under five years old, are more likely than adults to die from VPDs)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.
2019-10-18
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Department of Defense Global Health Engagement [December 13, 2019]
From the Document: "Since the Spanish-American War, the Department of Defense (DOD) has conducted 'global health engagement' (GHE) to prevent certain infectious diseases from threatening U.S. national security or military operations. Early GHE in partner nations and U.S.-controlled territories included site visits by epidemiological survey teams and establishment of DOD research laboratories to conduct research and monitor emerging disease threats. As a result, DOD has played a major role in discovering and developing vaccines for numerous infectious diseases, such as yellow fever, influenza, and most recently, Ebola."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.; Tharakan, Sara M.
2019-12-13
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COVID-19: Global Implications and Responses [Updated March 5, 2020]
From the Overview: "As of March 4, 2020, the novel coronavirus that began sickening patients in Wuhan, China, in early December 2019 had spread to over 75 countries, including the United States. Daily new cases and deaths related to the virus outside China now exceed those reported in China, where the epidemic appears to be coming under control. The World Health Organization (WHO) has named the new virus 'severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2' (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease that it causes 'coronavirus disease 2019' (COVID-19). WHO has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and raised its global risk assessment to 'Very High.' It has refrained from labeling the outbreak a 'pandemic,' however. Doing so, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said, could 'signal that we can no longer contain the virus, which is not true.' On March 5, Tedros told countries, 'This is not the time to give up.' Rather, 'This is a time for pulling out all the stops.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.; Gottron, Frank; Lawrence, Susan V. . . .
2020-03-05
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Department of Defense Global Health Engagement [Updated January 16, 2020]
From the Document: "Since the Spanish-American War, the Department of Defense (DOD) has conducted 'global health engagement' (GHE) to prevent certain infectious diseases from threatening U.S. national security or military operations. Early GHE in partner nations and U.S.-controlled territories included site visits by epidemiological survey teams and establishment of DOD research laboratories to conduct research and monitor emerging disease threats. As a result, DOD has played a major role in discovering and developing vaccines for numerous infectious diseases, such as yellow fever, influenza, and most recently, Ebola."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.; Tharakan, Sara M.; Lane, Emily K.
2020-01-16
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Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Developments in China and International Response [January 31, 2020]
From the Overview: "On December 31, 2019, China's government notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of patients with pneumonia of unknown cause in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. On January 7, 2020, Chinese scientists isolated a previously unknown coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the patients. On January 12, China's government shared the genetic sequence of the virus with WHO and international partners. By January 30, the virus had spread across China and to four continents (see Figure 1). As required by the International Health Regulations (IHR), a legally binding instrument of international law under which countries work together for global health security, the global health community is closely monitoring 2019-nCoV and seeking to limit its spread. WHO is coordinating the global response; the United States is aiding as a member of WHO and through its own agencies, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lawrence, Susan V.; Tharakan, Sara M.
2020-01-31
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U.S. Bilateral International Family Planning and Reproductive Health Programs: Background and Selected Issues [February 6, 2020]
From the Summary: "U.S. international family planning activities stem from a provision of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (Section 104, P.L. 87-195; as amended), which authorized research on family planning issues, among many other things. In 1965, Congress authorized the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to create contraceptive distribution programs. Originally, international family planning programs focused on distributing contraceptives and related commodities. Over time, such programs evolved to also address reproductive health issues, such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and obstetric fistula prevention and care. The United States is the largest donor of international family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) assistance, supporting programs in 40 countries and providing, in recent years, $575 million annually in bilateral aid for this purpose. USAID administers the majority of this funding, which Congress appropriates primarily through the Global Health Programs account in the annual State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs appropriation. [...] This report does not cover family planning assistance channeled through multilateral organizations, such as the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA). It provides only limited discussion of legislative restrictions and executive branch policies related to international abortion, which are detailed in other CRS [Congressional Research Service] products."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.
2020-02-06
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Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Developments in China and International Response [Updated February 6, 2020]
From the Document: "On December 31, 2019, China's government notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of patients with pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan, China. On January 7, 2020, Chinese scientists isolated a previously unknown coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the patients, and on January 12 the scientists made its genetic sequence available to WHO and international partners. By February 5, the virus had spread to every province in China and to 24 other countries."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.; Lawrence, Susan V.; Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
2020-02-06
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Origins of the COVID-19 Pandemic [May 3, 2021]
From the Document: "In late 2019, a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2], was identified in Wuhan, China. The virus, which causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has contributed to significant morbidity (illness) and mortality (death), as well as severe public health and economic effects, among other impacts. Several Members of Congress have made public statements and introduced legislation calling for an investigation into the origin of SARS-CoV-2. Determining the origin and pathway by which a zoonotic disease (i.e., one that originated in animals) emerges and is transmitted to humans can help scientists prevent further outbreaks, inform the public health response, and aid in the development of therapeutics and vaccines. Further, such knowledge may guide the development of policies and practices that reduce the potential for the emergence of other zoonotic diseases. Scientists note that determining the origin of zoonotic diseases could take years, and in some cases, an origin may never be conclusively identified. [...] From January 14 through February 10, 2021, a team of 34 experts--17 from China and 17 from other countries and organizations--traveled to Wuhan to collect and analyze existing and additional data. On March 30, 2021, WHO [World Health Organization] released its report on the mission, which summarized findings from site visits and discussions with Chinese local and national experts. The report presented four hypotheses on the origin of SARS-CoV-2 and assessed their likelihood of being the cause."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Sheikh, Pervaze A.; Tharakan, Sara M. . . .
2021-05-03
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Global Trends in HIV/AIDS [November 6, 2018]
"According to the Joint U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), since 1996, when the pandemic began, more than 70 million people have been infected with the HIV virus, about half of whom have died. At the end of 2017, 37 million people were living with HIV/AIDS, including 2.1 million children younger than 15 years. The same year, 940,000 people died of HIV-related illnesses, and 1.8 million people were newly infected with HIV. Globally, an estimated one out of four people infected with HIV do not know they have it. In 2017, an estimated 75% of people living with HIV knew their status. Successive U.S. Administrations and Congresses have supported efforts to combat global HIV/AIDS over the past few decades. The United States provides more funding than any other country in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Since the launch of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from FY2004 through FY2017, appropriations for global HIV/AIDS programs have averaged $4.6 billion per year and totaled $64 billion in that span. This assistance has been provided through PEPFAR, bilateral State Department- and USAID-administered programs, and the United Nations' (U.N.'s) Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.
2018-11-06
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Global Trends: Malaria [March 25, 2019]
From the Document: "According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly half of the world population (3.2 billion people) is at risk of contracting malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted through bites of infected mosquitoes. Malaria is preventable and curable, though in some regions malaria parasites are developing resistance to drug treatments and pesticides. From 2000 to 2016, WHO recorded significant progress in combatting malaria in endemic areas. However, data from the 2018 WHO World Malaria Report showed that progress in reducing global malaria cases has stalled in recent years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.
2019-03-25
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Global Measles Vaccination Trends [April 19, 2019]
From the Document: "Congress has long taken an interest in infectious disease prevention and control. Measles is a highly contagious virus that is transmitted through droplets emitted from an infected person when coughing and sneezing. The virus can live for up to two hours in the airspace or on a surface where an infected person coughed or sneezed. Other people can contract the disease if they breathe contaminated air or touch their eyes, nose, or mouth after touching a contaminated surface. Up to 90% of those in the proximity of an infected person who are not immune to the disease will be infected. Symptoms usually include high fever, rash, runny nose, and ear infections. Measles can also cause hearing loss, blindness, encephalitis (an infection that causes brain swelling), severe diarrhea, and severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to two of every 1,000 children infected with measles will die."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.
2019-04-19
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COVID-19: Potential Implications for International Security Environment -- Overview of Issues and Further Reading for Congress [Updated January 25, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Some observers argue the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic could be a world-changing event with potentially profound and long-lasting implications for the international security environment and the U.S. role in the world. Other observers are more skeptical that the COVID-19 pandemic will have such effects. This report provides a brief overview of some potential implications the COVID-19 pandemic might have for the international security environment and the U.S. role in the world, and a bibliography of CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports and other writings for further reading."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fischer, Hannah; Tharakan, Sara M.
2021-01-25
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COVID-19 International Responses: Resources for the 117th Congress [January 28, 2021]
From the Document: "Numerous international organizations, educational institutions, and private research firms have compiled information and are tracking international responses to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This Insight presents selected resources and CRS [Congressional Research Service] products that may be useful for Congress in tracking and understanding different countries' approaches to addressing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fischer, Hannah; Tharakan, Sara M.
2021-01-28
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COVID-19: Global Implications and Responses [Updated May 8, 2020]
From the Overview: "Congressional interest in the global implications of pandemics and the novel coronavirus pandemic is high, with over 50 pieces of related legislation introduced in the 116th Congress to date (see CRS Report R46319, 'Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19): Q&A on Global Implications and Responses').The virus, which is believed to have started in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, is now named 'severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2' (SARSCoV-2) and is known by the disease it causes, 'coronavirus disease 2019' (COVID-19). The virus has spread across the globe and is now concentrated in the United States and Europe. As of May 7, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 3.6 million people had contracted the disease, with over 250,000 deaths. WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30 and labeled it a 'pandemic' on March 11."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.; Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Gottron, Frank . . .
2020-05-08
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COVID-19 Vaccines: Global Health Issues [December 8, 2020]
From the Summary: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to severe health and economic consequences across the globe, with country governments struggling to contain the spread of the disease through physical lockdown and quarantine measures, while working towards vaccines, to prevent further morbidity (illness) and mortality (death). As of December 8, 2020, COVID-19 cases had reached roughly 67 million, with over 1.5 million deaths globally. The successful deployment of a COVID-19 vaccine globally could curb spread of the virus by aiding in creating herd immunity; whereby a high proportion of individuals within a population are resistant to infection based on pre-existing immunity (through vaccination and/or previous infection). At least 200 experimental COVID-19 vaccine candidates are under development worldwide. As of November 30, 2020, several companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, had requested emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their vaccine candidates. Vaccine development is typically a long, complex, and difficult process that can take decades. However, given the urgency of controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, governments, philanthropies, international organizations, scientists, and manufacturers are expediting research and development (R&D) for COVID-19 vaccines and other medical countermeasures. The stated goal of many entities is making a vaccine widely available within two years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.; Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Sekar, Kavya
2020-12-08
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Global COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution [March 26, 2021]
From the Background: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has led to severe health and economic consequences across the globe, as governments work to contain the spread of the virus and its variants. Officials have instituted a range of physical lockdowns and quarantine measures. In late 2020, researchers identified several new COVID-19 variants, which present challenges to pandemic control. For example, parts of Brazil, South Africa, and the United Kingdom are experiencing surges in COVID-19 cases believed to be caused in part by variants that have emerged in those countries. Vaccines and other countermeasures are playing a growing role in COVID-19 control. Researchers continue to study the safety and effectiveness of various COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Congress has appropriated approximately $15 billion through supplemental appropriations (P.L. 116-123, P.L. 116-136, P.L. 116-260, and P.L. 117-2) for a range of global COVID-19 responses. Congress authorized the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to use $4 billion of those funds in support of multilateral COVID19 vaccine efforts. Actions by the Biden Administration to deepen U.S. multilateral engagement, such as joining the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX), may lead to additional U.S. government support for global COVID-19 control."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.; Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
2021-03-26
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COVID-19 International Responses: Resources for Comparison with U.S. Policies [August 14, 2020]
From the Document: "This Insight presents selected resources and CRS [Congressional Research Service] products that may be useful for Congress as it compares U.S. responses to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with other countries' responses. COVID-19 emerged in China in late 2019 and has since spread around the globe, infecting millions and leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths. Since it emerged, the pandemic epicenter has shifted from China to several countries in Europe and then across the western hemisphere, including Brazil and the United States. In addition to the high counts of illness and death, COVID-19 has prompted a global economic recession with varying impacts on countries worldwide, according to the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The U.S. economy, as measured by gross domestic product, contracted at an annual rate of 32.9% in the second quarter of 2020. In the United States, unemployment also became widespread, with close to 18 million jobless (11.1% of workers) and more than 30 million Americans receiving unemployment benefits as of July 30, 2020."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fischer, Hannah; Tharakan, Sara M.
2020-08-14
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COVID-19: Global Implications and Responses [Updated March 19, 2020]
From the Document: "As of March 18, 2020, the novel coronavirus that began sickening patients in Wuhan, China, in early December 2019 had spread across the globe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 15 countries, including the United States, have reported more than 1,000 infections. Europe is the current epicenter for cases and deaths related to the virus. WHO has named the new virus 'severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2' (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease that it causes 'coronavirus disease 2019' (COVID-19). WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, raised its global risk assessment to 'Very High' on February 28, and labeled the outbreak a 'pandemic' on March 11. In using the term pandemic, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cited COVID-19's 'alarming levels of spread and severity' and governments' 'alarming levels of inaction.' President Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency in the United States on March 13."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.; Gottron, Frank; Lawrence, Susan V. . . .
2020-03-19
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Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-123): First Coronavirus Supplemental [March 25, 2020]
From the Introduction: "By late February and early March 2020, the global outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a viral respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus, had entered a new phase, with community spread occurring in many countries and several U.S. states. Concerns grew over the potential for the disease to spread widely, leading to increased hospitalizations and deaths. On March 6, 2020, Congress and the President enacted the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-123), to provide emergency supplemental appropriations to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus outbreak. This report provides an overview of appropriations in Division A and relevant policies and requirements pursuant to the supplemental. Funding in Division A is designated as being provided as an emergency requirement. For the purposes of the supplemental, the term 'coronavirus' refers to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-2019, or another coronavirus with pandemic potential."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sekar, Kavya; Dabrowska, Agata; Lindsay, Bruce R. . . .
2020-03-25
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COVID-19: Global Implications and Responses [Updated June 12, 2020]
From the Overview: "Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) is believed to have emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, and it has since spread around the globe. Confirmed cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are most numerous in the United States, Russia, and Brazil (Figure 1). As of June 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that over 7.4 million people had contracted COVID-19 worldwide, and that over 400,000 people had died from it. WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30 and labeled it a 'pandemic' on March 11."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.; Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Gottron, Frank . . .
2020-06-12
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Consumption of Prescription Opioids for Pain: A Comparison of Opioid Use in the United States and Other Countries [June 2, 2021]
From the Summary: "Beginning in the late 1990s, the consumption of medical opioids used to treat pain increased in many countries worldwide. Since that time, the United States has outpaced every other country in per capita opioid consumption. Most research suggests that high levels of prescription opioid consumption in the United States have contributed to the current epidemic of opioid misuse and overdose deaths. In response, several states and the U.S. federal government have demonstrated an interest in reducing opioid misuse and overdose deaths through legislation and executive initiatives. Understanding why the United States consumes more opioids per capita than other countries may help Congress construct effective legislation to reduce inappropriate or excess opioid consumption and mitigate related consequences, such as opioid misuse and overdose deaths. In addition, lawmakers in the United States could examine policies in peer countries for possible approaches to curb excessive prescription opioid use. A review of the scientific literature through February 2020 on international opioid consumption and prescribing practices pointed to several possible underlying reasons explaining the difference in opioid consumption per capita in the United States. [...] This report describes trends in opioids use across industrialized countries and identifies possible factors explaining the disproportionate use of prescription opioids in the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Duff, Johnathan H.; Tharakan, Sara M.; Davis-Castro, Carla Y. . . .
2021-06-02
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Origins of the COVID-19 Pandemic [Updated June 11, 2021]
From the Document: "In late 2019, a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2], was identified in Wuhan, China. The virus, which causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has contributed to significant morbidity (illness) and mortality (death), as well as severe public health and economic effects, among other impacts. Several Members of Congress have made public statements and introduced legislation calling for an investigation into the origin of SARS-CoV-2. Determining the origin and pathway by which a zoonotic disease (i.e., one that originated in animals) emerges and is transmitted to humans can help scientists prevent further outbreaks, inform the public health response, and aid in the development of therapeutics and vaccines. Further, such knowledge may guide the development of policies and practices that reduce the potential for the emergence of other zoonotic diseases. Determining the origin of zoonotic diseases can take years, and in some cases, an origin may never be conclusively identified."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Sheikh, Pervaze A.; Sheikh, Hassan Z. . . .
2021-06-11
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