• Vol. 26 No. 5, 616–619
  • 01 September 1997

The Role of International Agencies in Emerging Infections

Emergent and resurgent infections have no respect for national borders. Surveillance programmes, policies and practices, educational activities and control initiatives all require international leadership, multinational funding, and the ability to transcend national barriers if we are to prevent and control these infections. Society seems to expect us to organise ourselves to do this job well without building “impossible to maintain” barriers to the flow of people or goods. As a result, we must determine how international organisations, including United Nations agencies, international societies, and academic groups in universities, can work together with national organisations to achieve effective surveillance, ongoing education, important research and control initiatives to prevent infections from becoming an ever-increasing global threat to our security.

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Declaration

The author(s) declare there are no affiliations with or involvement in any organisation or entity with any financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.