For most of the past century, the spread of mysterious,
frightening diseases has been occurring mainly
in the poorer parts of the planet. It is not until now
that AIDS, after having been primarily identified as a
“Third World,” specifically African, condition, has
briefly made its way to the highest level of political
agendas. Meanwhile, malaria, tuberculosis, and malnutrition
remain among the leading causes of death
in the poorest countries.
The northern high-income G8 members and the
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) countries have lived for decades as
though they were immune to at least three of the hardship
afflictions— famines, epidemics, and wars in
their territory.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), avian
influenza, and bioterrorism have suddenly placed
those countries on a similar level to rural China in
the eyes of much of the world. These epidemic
threats have evidenced the interdependent nature of
society––from family and cultural events to transportation
systems bringing us to work and bringing
tourists to our countries––and to the smooth workings
of a complex economy that is highly dependent
on the good will and good commerce of other jurisdictions.
The role of the public health system is critical
within this rhythmic interchange between societies,
providing enough trained people, resources,
and built-in reserves to surveil, recognize, interpret,
and respond to the blips on the epidemiological radar
screen that signal a potential epidemic.