Towards health security: a discussion paper on recent health crises in the WHO European Region

ABSTRACT

This discussion paper examines recent threats to health security in the WHO European Region fromcommunicable diseases, natural disasters, large-scale accidents, conflicts and complex emergenciesand the potential future challenges from climate change. It reviews the lessons learned from pastexperience, the new framework offered by the revised International Health Regulations (2005), the needfor strengthening health systems to manage crises and the importance of international partnerships forhealth security.