摘要:Over the last two decades, there has been the emergence of previously unknown infectiousdiseases and the re-emergence of diseases thought to be in decline. This is the result of social,economic, political and ecological factors, and the interactions of organisms, hosts and theenvironment. In recent years, Australia has experienced a number of significant outbreaks ofemerging diseases such as bat paramyxovirus and Escherichia coli O111, and there has been aresurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Australia is implementing a National Communi-cable Diseases Surveillance Strategy in response to this public health threat. The Strategy,similar initia tiv es in othe r countr ies, and enha nced international cooper atio n will contributeto the global response to emerging diseases