Infectious Disease Movement in a Borderless World.

Infectious Disease Movement in a Borderless World. Workshop Summary

Released:

March 12, 2010

Type:

Workshop Summary

Topics:

Diseases, Global Health, Public Health

Activity:

Forum on Microbial Threats

Board:

Board on Global Health

Note: Workshop Summaries contain the opinion of the presenters, but do NOT reflect the conclusions of the IOM. Learn more about the differences between Workshop Summaries and Consensus Reports.

Modern transportation allows people, animals, and plants—and the pathogens they carry—to travel more easily than ever before. The ease and speed of travel, tourism, and international trade connect once-remote areas with one another, eliminating many of the geographic and cultural barriers that once limited the spread of disease. Because of our global interconnectedness through transportation, tourism and trade, infectious diseases emerge more frequently; spread greater distances; pass more easily between humans and animals; and evolve into new and more virulent strains.
The IOM’s Forum on Microbial Threats hosted the workshop “Globalization, Movement of Pathogens (and Their Hosts) and the Revised International Health Regulations” December 16-17, 2008 in order to explore issues related to infectious disease spread in a “borderless” world. Participants discussed the global emergence, establishment, and surveillance of infectious diseases; the complex relationship between travel, trade, tourism, and the spread of infectious diseases; national and international policies for mitigating disease movement locally and globally; and obstacles and opportunities for detecting and containing these potentially wide-reaching and devastating diseases. This document summarizes the workshop.