In many ways, we were lucky with SARS. Asymptomatic infections were rare and transmissibility was usually inefficient and typically occurred after disease onset, allowing for pubic health intervention strategies to control the outbreak (Peiris et al., 2004) . SARS highlighted the importance of rapid reporting, infection control, tracing and quarantine of contacts in controlling new emerging diseases. However, if super spreader events were more common, the story may have been dramatically different. Importantly, the outbreak has underscored critical vulnerabilities in global public health intervention strategies. Highly pathogenic respiratory viruses are clearly capable of near instantaneous global transmission, and as such rapid approaches are needed to rapidly (a) detect, (b) sequence, and (c) develop and test candidate vaccines and therapeutics to protect human populations. Safe, universal, vaccine platforms are needed that can be tailored to new pathogens as they emerge, quickly tested for safety, and then strategically used to control new disease outbreaks in human populations. Basic investment into structure, replication, genetics and pathogenesis in each virus family is justified and among the first line of defense against future emerging threats. It is no longer sufficient that only the developed world be poised and able to protect itself from new emerging diseases threats. Rapid vaccination and therapeutic platforms are needed for the developing world as well, positioned to engage local research and public health communities in controlling local disease outbreaks at the source. If control measures can be implemented rapidly, then the scope, duration and suffering in epidemics will be minimized.