ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we will focus on what was learnt from the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and H1N1 09 experiences regarding what we should and should not do, in our attempts to control the next new epidemic virus that emerges. The global public health response after the SARS epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the international health regulations in 2005. All public health pandemic plans advise that, where possible, infected individuals should be kept at home. The Infected individuals need to be told not to go to work (or school) and employers need to be educated to enforce these guidelines. There is no doubt that personal protective measures such as hand washing and avoidance behaviors are effective, and the general public also needs to be educated to act responsibly by staying at home when unwell and not traveling when potentially infective.
