Global infectious disease surveillance

Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death among children and young adults. They account for more than 13 million deaths a year with one in two deaths occurring in developing countries. Yet as the battle to control known infectious diseases continues new threats have emerged. Currently researchers are challenged by the resurgence of epidemic diseases such as cholera dengue epidemic meningitis and hemorrhagic fevers as well as the devastating development of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic and other new diseases. The propagation and transmission of infectious agents are favored in today’s world constituting health threats to all countries. The reason include: changes in the food industry that facilitate widespread dissemination of foodborne disease; migration and urbanization and the creation of peri-urban slums; human behavior including sexual behavior that fosters sexually transmitted infections (STIs); environmental changes including deforestation and changing agricultural practices as well as climate change that have an impact on diseases such as malaria cholera and Rift Valley fever; emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance now of great public health concern worldwide as many infections become increasingly difficult to treat; increasing volume and speed of international travel increasing the potential for rapid international spread of disease. (excerpt)