Fewer than Half of US States Adequately Prepared for Health Emergency Ahead of World Cup: Report
Researchers used 10 indicators to rank state readiness, and only 20 states scored high as outbreaks and staffing shortages strain the system.
- On Thursday, Trust for America's Health released a report showing that fewer than half of U.S. states are sufficiently prepared for public health emergencies.
- Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, the head of TFAH, cited rising disease outbreaks over the past year and decreased federal funding as key factors placing national preparedness at risk.
- Only 20 states scored 'high' in the assessment, while 17 states and Washington, D.C., were in the 'middle tier' and 13 states fell into the 'low tier'.
- Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, warned that the event could expose systemic public health weaknesses.
- Experts tracking 20 outbreaks nationwide, including measles and avian influenza, emphasize that perpetual readiness is vital for managing multiple concurrent emergencies.
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Maryland Matters
Maryland ranked high among states for public health preparedness, but could be doing more
A new report shows that a little over have of Marylanders received their annual flu shot in the 2024-2025 flu season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jerry Saslav)Maryland remains better prepared to combat public health emergencies than most other states, but federal shakeups in staffing and funding could threaten those protections, according to a new report from Trust for America’s Health. The annual “Ready or Not?” report evaluates the nation’s publi…
Fewer than half of US states adequately prepared for health emergency ahead of World Cup: Report
Fewer than half of U.S. states are sufficiently prepared for a health emergency, according to new research released on Thursday. Only 20 states scored “high” on the annual report from Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) on national public health emergency preparedness. Seventeen states and Washington, D.C., scored in the “middle tier” and 13 states fell...
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Springfield, IL – Illinois has been elevated to a top-tier ranking for emergency preparedness in a newly released national report, marking a significant improvement in the state’s ability to respond to public health crises. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the state was designated a “high-performance” state in the 2026 report by Trust for America’s Health. The ranking represents the highest category...
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Iowa has fallen to the bottom rating on a national report gauging the preparedness of all 50 states for public health emergencies, from disease outbreaks to natural disasters. Dara Lieberman, director of government relations at the non-profit Trust for America’s Health, says Iowa is among 13 states in the lowest tier, falling from the middle tier last year. Of the ten main indicators the report uses, Iowa cut its state public health funding, fel…
Maryland ranked high among states for public health preparedness, but could be doing more - Stateline Publications
A new report shows that a little over have of Marylanders received their annual flu shot in the 2024-2025 flu season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jerry Saslav)Maryland remains better prepared to combat public health emergencies than most other states, but federal shakeups in staffing and funding could threaten those protections, according to a new report from Trust for America’s Health. The annual “Ready or Not?” report evaluates the nation’s publi…
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