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| INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Infectious diseases emerging at high rate worldwide |
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During the annual World Health Day on Monday, the World Health Organization
reported that on a global scale, new infectious diseases are emerging and old
ones are returning at a high rate.
The U.N. health agency said that over the past 20 years, more than 30 new contagious diseases have been identified, among them AIDS and Ebola hemorrhagic fever. In the same time period, other diseases, such as malaria and tuberculosis, have become more drug-resistant and are returning to many parts of the world. The WHO said part of the blame for the rise in infectious diseases lies with early medical successes and confidence in antibiotics. Today, many antibiotics are not potent enough to treat infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. Also, fewer new antibiotics are being developed, the WHO said. The WHO hopes to convince public and private sectors to increase the amount of resources that go toward disease control and surveillance. Source: USA Today Online, April 7.
This item appeared in the News section of the April 11, 1997 issue. |
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