The surveillance and control of emerging infectious diseases

Emerging infectious diseases and resurgent older infectious diseases present major challenges to social welfare and health in developing and industrialized nations. New diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cryptosporidiosis, and Lyme disease have emerged through a number of mechanisms, including new human contact in zones which have been previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabitated, genetic mutation, spatial diffusion, and inadequate public health measures. Resurgent infectious diseases that were once close to elimination can also arise because of mutation, inadequate containment, antimicrobial resistance, and inadequate public health measures. Rapid detection and surveillance by the public health community are crucial in limiting the diffusion and spread of new and emergent diseases, and are prerequisites to the containment of these major threats to human health.