A novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2) causing a cluster of respiratory infections (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, was identified on 7 January 2020. The epidemic quickly disseminated from Wuhan and as at 12 February 2020, 45,179 cases have been confirmed in 25 countries, including 1,116 deaths. Strengthened surveillance was implemented in France on 10 January 2020 in order to identify imported cases early and prevent secondary transmission. Three categories of risk exposure and follow-up procedure were defined for contacts. Three cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on 24 January, the first cases in Europe. Contact tracing was immediately initiated. Five contacts were evaluated as at low risk of exposure and 18 at moderate/high risk. As at 12 February 2020, two cases have been discharged and the third one remains symptomatic with a persistent cough, and no secondary transmission has been identified. Effective collaboration between all parties involved in the surveillance and response to emerging threats is required to detect imported cases early and to implement adequate control measures.

The implications for health and social systems are discussed in the light of comparisons with European and North American data.

On 1 October 2019, a locally-acquired Zika virus disease case was laboratory confirmed in Hyères, Var department. Active case finding identified two additional locally-acquired cases living within 90 m, with symptom onset 8 days before the index case. Extensive patient interviews did not yield information supporting transmission through sexual contact or substances of human origin. Vector-borne transmission by local Aedes albopictus mosquitoes is the most likely mode of transmission. Here we describe the public health response.

T o preserve human health security, a global surveillance system able to rapidly detect, verify, and assess burgeoning outbreaks is key. The World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (2005) (1) provides an international and legally binding framework for the early detection of, reporting of, and response to any public health threat (e.g., infectious disease outbreaks) that might be of international concern using an all-hazards approach (2). Event-based surveillance through informal sources now represents a critical source for epidemic intelligence (3). Almost all major outbreaks during 1994-2017 investigated by the WHO were early reported and identified through informal sources (4-7). One of the most valued, internationally acknowledged sources for epidemic intelligence activities that is also available as an open source is ProMED-mail (4,8). By relying on local media, professional networks, and on-the-ground experts, ProMED-mail staff produce reports on occurrences of emerging infectious diseases and outbreaks in near real-time. Specialist moderators curate these reports and provide subject matter expert commentaries. ProMED-mail captures many reports of undiagnosed diseases (i.e., reports of public health