[Travelling epidemics].

OBJECTIVES: We have to become aware of the current development of international travels which has contributed to amplify circulation of all sorts of infectious agents. We will describe the current situation. OBSERVATIONS: Infectious agents are carried by means of travellers, immigrants, as well as by animals, goods and merchandise. The distribution of infections potentially responsible for epidemics tends to become worldwide and some of them are emergent diseases. SOLUTIONS: Such a situation imposes enhancement of international surveillance and development of resources for control and response to alerts. Developed countries possess most advanced equipments and interventional structures: they are those which may intervene predominantly in the fight against epidemics. The necessary contribution of these industrialized countries is increasing in developing countries in which infectious epidemics are spreading and such intervention must be sustained. The content of the article is a review of major threatening infectious epidemic diseases with the contribution of personal experiences.