Abstract
The impact of SARS on society and the economy was enormous, especially in Asia. This type of epidemic is not new, but the media reaction had considerable impact. For society, the investigation of an unfolding epidemic is essential to assess the potential impact and to implement measures to contain it. The insurance business is faced with the same necessities, and to determine early whether it should adapt its business processes.1 In recent years, the infectious disease threat has diverged considerably from its previous patterns of epidemiology. As a result, new pathogens, or newly recognized diseases involving known pathogens, are being reported at an unprecedented rate. The phenomenal growth of international travel and trade has vastly increased the speed and ease with which pathogens and vectors can cross continents to cause outbreaks, epidemics and, on occasion, establish permanent residence in new areas. No country acting alone can defend its borders against this threat. Efficient defense requires a global system for gathering infectious disease intelligence, detecting outbreaks quickly and collaborating to contain their spread.
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Keywords
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus
- West Nile Virus
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
- Acquire Immune Deficiency Syndrome
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Case
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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© 2006 Jan Von Overbeck
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von Overbeck, J. (2006). Infectious Diseases. In: Brackenridge, R.D.C., Croxson, R.S., MacKenzie, R. (eds) Brackenridge’s Medical Selection of Life Risks. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-56632-7_34
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