Answer :
Final answer:
The CDC established universal precautions as part of infection control policies, which were expanded by the WHO's International Health Regulations of 2005. The U.S. National Security Council also released a playbook in 2016 to tackle emerging infectious disease threats, underlining the sustained focus on preparing for potential pandemics.
Explanation:
Universal precautions, the approach to infection control to treat all human blood and certain human body fluids as if they were known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne pathogens, were established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The framework for an effective infection control policy has evolved over time, incorporating learnings from various global health crises.
Universal precautions were part of a broader strategy to prevent the transmission of pathogens and manage infection control. This aspect of public health policy was later expanded by the International Health Regulations (IHR) in 2005, created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its member states. The IHR aimed to prevent and respond to the international spread of diseases, including biological and chemical events.
In the United States, efforts such as the National Security Council's (NSC) Playbook for Early Response to High-Consequence Emerging Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents, published in 2016, demonstrate attempts to prepare for and mitigate pandemics. However, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps and resulted in calls for improved readiness and reinforced infection control policies.