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International law and communicable diseases
1Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. aginam@yahoo.com
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
|February 7, 2003
Summary
International law is crucial for global communicable disease surveillance, harmonizing regulations and facilitating information exchange. It remains an essential tool in modern global health governance to reduce disease burdens.
Area of Science:
- Global Health Law
- International Public Health Policy
- Epidemiological Surveillance
Background:
- International law historically harmonized national quarantine regulations in 19th-century Europe.
- It facilitated the exchange of epidemiological data and established early international health organizations.
Observation:
- Communicable diseases continue to influence global health governance.
- Modern surveillance relies on legally binding and soft-law regimes within multilateral institutions.
Findings:
- International law standardizes surveillance and information exchange for infectious diseases.
- Multilateral organizations like the WHO, WTO, FAO, and OIE utilize international law.
Implications:
- International law is indispensable for global health governance in the face of globalization.
- It aims to reduce human vulnerability to communicable disease mortality and morbidity.