The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) is a technical collaboration of existing institutions and networks who pool human and technical resources for the rapid identification, confirmation and response to outbreaks of international importance. The Network provides an operational framework to link this expertise and skill to keep the international community constantly alert to the threat of outbreaks and ready to respond.

Global response networks are well placed to respond to the health effects of chemical and radioactive incidents with the same techniques used in

any disaster – prompt response, triage and treatment, securing water, food and sanitation systems. The greater concern lies in what it is that prompts such chemical and radioactive incidents. The word accident implies lack of responsibility, yet on investigation policy, protocol or infrastructure weaknesses are frequently revealed. Attacks are premeditated - that does not have to mean they are not preventable.