The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in late 2002 and 2003 challenged the global public health community 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.  In addition to the number of patients infected with the SARS virus, totaling more than 8000 cases and 774 known deaths, the disease had profound economic and political repercussions in many of the affected regions. 

Recent reports of isolated new SARS cases and a fear that the disease could reemerge and spread have put public health officials on high alert for any indications of possible new outbreaks.  Additionally, as discussed in the report, these concerns have been confounded by epidemic outbreaks of both human (H3N2) and avian (H5N1) influenza this season.

In response to the SARS epidemic and its lingering consequences, the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Microbial Threats convened a two-day scientific workshop in the fall of 2003 to consider the lessons that might be drawn from a better understanding of the origin, spread, and eventual control of the first outbreak. 

Learning from SARS: Preparing for the Next Disease Outbreak presents an overview of the workshop's proceedings, including presentations from the workshop and an overall summary and assessment of the issues that were raised.  Separate papers address topics including:

• the response to SARS by public health systems within individual countries;
• the biology of the SARS coronavirus and related coronaviruses in animals;
• the economic and political fallout of the SARS epidemic;
• quarantine law and other public health measures that apply to combating infectious diseases;
• and the role of international organizations and scientific cooperation in halting the spread of SARS and other infectious diseases. 

Together these materials provide an illuminating survey of findings from last year's epidemic, along with an assessment of what might be needed in order to contain any future outbreaks of SARS or other emerging infections.

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