I. Definition of emerging and re-emerging infection

An “emerging infection” is defined as a new infection that has never appeared before or a known infection that has recent increase in prevalence.¹ The classic examples of emerging infectious diseases are the HIV pandemic and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated Coronavirus outbreak in the 1980’s and 2003, respectively. A “re-emerging infection” is a familiar infection that recurs such as tick borne encephalitis virus and the hemorrhagic fever viruses in Europe.² These emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDS) attract our attention because of their impact on public health and economic consequences.