Disease oubreaks
In recent years, both the Western Pacific and South-East Asia Regions of WHO have experienced significant outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, including Nipah virus, avian influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Outbreaks of known diseases such as dengue, cholera, typhoid fever and leptospirosis also continue to occur in the Region. Early detection and reporting of such events is a crucial step towards minimizing their negative social and economic impact.