Singapore's Prescription for Successful Control of Transnational Emerging Infectious Diseases

概要

論文の詳細を見る
Severe acute respiratory syndrome, a previously unknown emerging infectious disease,spread to multiple locations across continents in 2003 without being initiallyidentified as a life-threatening infectious disease. The Republic of Singapore, inSoutheast Asia, was one of the countries/areas affected by the global outbreak. Withalmost no existing procedures on how to deal with an emerging epidemic of suchseverity and rapid transmission, the country managed to formulate and implementpolicies to support countermeasures against this infectious disease. The interventionsby the Singapore government covered of social and economic issues beyondthe scope of public health, and promoted the involvement of governmental bodiesand the general public. This example set by Singapore has been well recognized byinternational communities as the employment of successful containment measures.By scrutinizing public health measures deployed by the country, this paper identifiesa political will that was embodied in a total governmental approach toward theemerging infectious disease in 2003; analyzes the origin of governmental interventionin health matters in the Republic; and shows why this country must choose tofiercely fight against health threats.
2012-08-31