Emerg Infect DiseidEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-6059Centers for Disease Control107561422640857Research ArticleRumors of disease in the global village: outbreak verification.GreinT. W.greint@who.intKamaraK. B.RodierG.PlantA. J.BovierP.RyanM. J.OhyamaT.HeymannD. L.Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.Mar-Apr20006297102

Emerging infectious diseases and the growth of information technology have produced new demands and possibilities for disease surveillance and response. Increasing numbers of outbreak reports must be assessed rapidly so that control efforts can be initiated and unsubstantiated reports can be identified to protect countries from unnecessary economic damage. The World Health Organization has set up a process for timely outbreak verification to convert large amounts of data into accurate information for suitable action. We describe the context and processes of outbreak verification and information dissemination.