Southern Health Board. Department of Public Health. Health status report, 2004.

摘要

Protection of the health of our population is of paramount importance. Weudneed to remain ever vigilant of the threats posed by infections and hazards inudour environment. In recent times we have experienced the reality of SevereudAcute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), anthrax threats and bioterrorism andudthe Iikelihood of an influenza pandemic. The ease of international travel hasudthe potential to bring these problems to our doorstep. Global travel andudchanging lifestyles are facilitating the emergence of new infectious diseases asudwell as the resurgence of older diseases. It was global travel that generated audworldwide scare on SARS. Our increasingly promiscuous society has beenudaccompanied by an increase in sexually transmitted diseases and the evidenceudis compelling that intravenous drug misuse has resulted in increased levels ofudblood borne viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis Band C. There must be betterudappreciation of the impact of infectious disease and environmental threats onudthe individual, the population, the health service and the socio-economicudimpact in a changing world.