Facing future pandemic threat 

The authors explain how Southeast Asia has, in the past decade, been the "breeding ground" for many emerging diseases such as the avian influenza (H5N1) or the SARS outbreak. They cite the impoverished economy, sub-standard health care, changes in ecosystems, poor farming practices and increasing global travel and tourism as risk factors contributing to this situation. 

The book also suggests that as Southeast Asia lacks adequate infrastructure and trained manpower, countries in this area "depend on international collaboration, funding and technical assistance to strengthen regional expertise in their fight against emerging diseases". 

A number of efforts to face future outbreaks are under way: new antivirals R&D, development of new vaccines and improvement of methods of diagnosis and surveillance. 

To access the book at Karger's website, click here .