The world must tighten its defences against infectious disease because other potential killers such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) are sure to come along, World Health Organisation officials said today.
A new influenza pandemic, similar to those that killed millions in the 20th century, is overdue and countries need to be ready, a news conference was told.
"There will be more outbreaks like SARS. Influenza will almost certainly occur as its did three times in the last century as well as diseases we do not yet know," said Mr David Heymann, WHO head of communicable diseases.
The officials said the battle against SARS, which was slowly being brought under control, at least outside China, showed what could be done when international health authorities acted together.
"But we still ... need to tighten global surveillance and (disease) response," said Mr Guenael Rodier, WHO director of communicable disease and response.
China was initially criticised by the organisation for being slow to provide details of an outbreak of SARS in the southern province of Guangdong, where the virus is believed to have started last November.
But the officials stressed that China, which has been the hardest hit by SARS, was now co-operating fully with the UN agency.
Mr Heymann said one way to strengthen the world's defences would be to invest more heavily in laboratories and epidemiological research.
Mr Heymann said WHO remained confident the disease could be eradicated, despite the number of cases continuing to rise in China.
"We believe we will put it back in the box," he said.
The annual assembly of the World Health Organisation's 192 member states began in Geneva today with the outbreak of SARS due to dominate the agenda in the first week.
The conference continues this afternoon with a discussion on a landmark treaty to fight smoking.