Infectious diseases are a global hazard that puts every nation and every person at risk. The recent SARS outbreak is a prime example. Knowing neither geographic nor political borders, often arriving silently and lethally, microbial pathogens constitute a grave threat to the health of humans. Indeed, a majority of countries recently identified the spread of infectious disease as the greatest global problem they confront. Throughout history, humans have struggled to control both the causes and consequences of infectious diseases and we will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.


Following up on a high-profile 1992 report from the Institute of Medicine, Microbial Threats to Health examines the current state of knowledge and policy pertaining to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases from around the globe. It examines the spectrum of microbial threats, factors in disease emergence, and the ultimate capacity of the United States to meet the challenges posed by microbial threats to human health. From the impact of war or technology on disease emergence to the development of enhanced disease surveillance and vaccine strategies, Microbial Threats to Health contains valuable information for researchers, students, health care providers, policymakers, public health officials. and the interested public.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1. Introduction
2. Spectrum of Microbial Threats
3. Factors of Emergence
4. Addressing the Threats: Conclusions and Recommendations
Epilogue
Glossary
References
Appendix A: Microbial Threats to Health Public Committee Meeting
Agendas
Appendix B: Syndromic Surveillance
Appendix C: Pathogen Discovery, Detection, and Diagnostics
Appendix D: Forum on Emerging Infections Membership and
Publications, Board on Global Health
Appendix E: Computational Modeling and Simulation of Epidemic
Infectious Diseases
Appendix F: Committee and Staff Biographies
Index