Dr. Seth Berkley said global health threats should be treated as a component of national security to better prepare for infectious disease outbreaks [1].

Integrating health into security planning is critical because pandemics and outbreaks can destabilize societies, economies, and security structures [1, 2]. As political agendas continue to reshape scientific institutions, the need for a security-focused approach to health becomes more urgent [1].

Berkley, a physician and epidemiologist who previously served as CEO of the Vaccine Alliance Gavi, discussed these risks during a Fast Company MIC podcast [1]. He said specific threats, including hantavirus and Ebola, are examples of how biological risks can transcend medical concerns and become matters of state stability [1].

According to Berkley, the intersection of health and security is necessary to mitigate the potential for societal collapse during a crisis [1, 2]. He said that treating health as a security priority allows for more robust planning and resource allocation than treating it solely as a medical issue [1].

This approach aims to shield scientific institutions from political volatility, ensuring that pandemic preparedness remains a priority regardless of the current administration's agenda [1]. By framing health as a security pillar, governments can create more sustainable frameworks for vaccine development, and outbreak response [1].

“Global health threats should be treated as a component of national security.”

This shift in perspective suggests that public health is no longer viewed merely as a social service but as a strategic defense mechanism. By reclassifying health threats as national security risks, governments may justify higher spending and more aggressive intervention strategies to prevent economic and political destabilization.