The main mission of the new WHO Office in Lyon is to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to contain epidemics and emerging diseases, including the detection of drug resistance.
Laboratories have a crucial role to play.
They have to provide quick and reliable information on the causative agent of the epidemic, the most effective course of treatment for patients, and which measures must be taken to prevent the spread of such epidemics. The Office of Lyon will help with the technical training of specialists from all over the world who work to control epidemics. When they return to their countries, they will be better able to contribute effectively to rapid detection of the main epidemic and emerging diseases. Such diseases know no frontiers. Because of the mobility of people and goods, a communicable disease occurring in one country can, the next day, find itself transmitted to another anywhere in the world.