[From alert to laboratory: a coherent network designed to deal with to naturally occurring infectious disease outbreaks and bioterrorism]

Public health prevention requires early detection of disease outbreaks, whether naturally occurring or due to bioterrorism. Permanent surveillance and a network of laboratories are the two main pillars of effective outbreak management. Coordination of information, training, and procedures are under the responsibility of the French public health watch institute and the scientific advisory board for the Biotox-Piratox laboratory network. Protective capacities against bioterrorism are improving but efforts must continue.