Infectious diseases are emerging faster than at any time in history, the World Health Organisation has warned its annual report.
The organisation has urged closer global co-operation to tackle growing health threats.
The WHO underlined that the threats knew no boundaries and included not only epidemics, but also food-borne diseases, chemical, biological or nuclear accidents or attacks, industrial pollution and the impact of climate change.
Open sharing of medical knowledge, technology and supplies between rich and poor countries is also crucial the report says.
Since the 1970s new diseases have been identified at the 'unprecedented' rate of one or more per year, the report says.
Other centuries-old threats such as influenza, malaria and tuberculosis were also thriving due to a combination of biological mutations, rising resistance to antibiotics and weak health systems.
