The international response to the outbreak of SARS in 2003.
The sudden arrival of an internationally spreading outbreak of a newly identified infectious disease in early 2003, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), provided an opportunity for a coordinated international response based on information and evidence obtained in real time through standard and electronic communications. Its containment represents a new way of working internationally, and demonstrates how intense collaboration in virology, clinical medicine and epidemiology can rapidly provide the information necessary to create and implement evidence-based control measures. The SARS outbreak serves as a reminder of the need for a strong national surveillance and response to infectious diseases, evidence-based international travel recommendations, and a global alert and response network to serve as a safety net when national surveillance fails.
World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. heymannd@who.int
David L
DL
Heymann
D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000266:history; D014943:Global Health; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007391:International Cooperation; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control; D014944:World Health Organization