Battling biological threats

The threat to human health from naturally occurring new or re-emerging pathogens, allied to the perceived threat from the deliberate release of infectious or toxic agents of bioterrorism, currently has a high media profile. Whilst it is important to keep a balanced perspective, some of these threats could represent a real challenge to public health. In 1999, the West Nile virus crossed geographical barriers that had previously restricted it to the 'Old World' by arriving in New York. From there it spread to most other states, producing disease in humans and a large number of animals. By the end of 2002, over 270 people had died and over 3,600 had been confirmed as infected cases. The emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in late 2002 and 2003 also posed a real challenge to the global public health community, which had to confront a novel epidemic that spread rapidly from its origins in southern China until it had reached more than 25 other countries within a matter of months. By the end of July 2003, more than 8,000 people had been infected and nearly 800 had died.