Progress in Global Surveillance and Response Capacity 10 years After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Ten years after the World Health Organization (WHO) issued their first global alert for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the authors reviewed the critical gaps that remain in the global surveillance and response capacity for similar public health threats. Of 194 WHO member states that signed on to the International Health Regulations (2005), fewer than 20% had achieved compliance with the core capacities required by the deadline in June 2012. The authors emphasize the lessons learned from the global SARS outbreak (e.g., avoid complacency, use all available 21st century tools to strengthen capacity building efforts, and support research).