The US Department of Health and Human Services has published its first ever global health strategy, recognising the fact that the health of its citizens is more closely linked to the health of people in the rest of the world than ever before.

The strategy, published on 5 January, says, “This interconnectedness offers both opportunities and challenges. A disease outbreak in a distant country can threaten the health of Americans at home, just as a discovery made in a foreign country can lead to better treatment for diseases affecting Americans. Greater movement of people and of products—including foods, feed, drugs, and medical devices—can increase exposure to potential health risks originating outside the United States. But this mobility can also make life-saving care …