A hard lesson for Europeans: the ASEAN CDC.
Despite the growing threat of major pandemics, the European Union is planning no more than a meager surveillance agency staffed with 70 people on the 2007 horizon: the new European Centre for Disease Control. I argue that an effective structure should be much larger and include a strong research activity. Asian countries, inspired by the US CDC, are now taking this concept in hand and creating an ASEAN Center For Disease Control, with sophisticated laboratory facilities to be included. This is a tough lesson for us Europeans, and our avarice in this domain could have tragic consequences in the future.
Tibayrenc
Michel
M
UMR IRD/CNRS 2724, Génétique et Evolution des Maladies Infectieuses, IRD, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 05, France. Michel.Tibayrenc@mpl.ird.fr
D001208:Asia; D035843:Biomedical Research; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D005062:European Union; D007391:International Cooperation; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education; D011635:Public Health Administration