Mass gatherings: implications and opportunities for global health security.

2. Mass gatherings have significant implications for public health beyond the acute public health events which may occur and require rapid detection and effective management. These implications extend to the benefits of cross-sectoral preparedness planning and increased capacity in the health infrastructure; the international spread of epidemic or pandemic disease; or the powerful leverage that public awareness and interest in such events present for communication of information. Mass gatherings represent risks to health security, with the potential to directly endanger the health of populations, to raise levels of social anxiety and political urgency and to cause economic disruption on a local, regional or global scale. The many challenges posed by mass gatherings have stimulated research and debate. 3