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Germs, governance, and global public health in the wake of SARS
David P. Fidler
David P. Fidler
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Review Series

Germs, governance, and global public health in the wake of SARS

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Abstract

A revolution in the governance of global infectious disease threats is under way, accelerated by events triggered by the outbreak of SARS in 2003. This review article analyzes pre-SARS trends in the governance of infectious diseases, examines the impact of the SARS outbreak on these trends, and posits that germ governance is now a criterion of “good governance” in world affairs.

Authors

David P. Fidler

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Figure 2

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Vertical germ governance focuses on reducing the infectious disease prev...
Vertical germ governance focuses on reducing the infectious disease prevalence inside states rather than regulating the transboundary movement of pathogenic microbes and is the approach taken in the promotion of the right to health, disease eradication programs, and programs to increase access to primary health care and essential medicines.

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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