Communicable disease outbreaks involving more than one country: systems approach to evaluating the response.

Reports on a study which evaluated responses to five outbreaks involving more than one member state of the European Union. How international trade and travel has increased the likelihood that outbreaks of infection will involve more than one country; Methods; Common critical control points, including failure to identify and report cases and failure to link information to action; Suggestion that national surveillance systems need to be improved.