Infectious, emerging and reemerging
diseases are spreading throughout the world with the increase of
international movement of humans animals, and freight.
There is an increase in viral, bacterial, parasitic, prion, fungal,
vector, water, and food borne diseases.
Due to underreporting of many of these diseases and other factors,
there have not been enough research projects to develop new drugs
and diagnostics to keep up with the diseases. These problems
have outpaced new cures as old one's have become much less
effective, if at all. The growing problem of antimicrobial
resistance further complicates the chances of a timely solution as
this is happening at an alarming rate.
This problem is a burden to society especially the poor but will
gradually spread and prove to be a burden to all of society.
Preventative measures must be taken, by developing rapid simple
diagnostics, which can be used to identify these diseases at the
source, in the field in remote regions. They must be treated
if possible or isolated until there is an effective treatment.
New technologies that are being developed in all areas against the
spread of these diseases, including diagnostics, water purification,
and other new technologies must be simple to operate and repair in
remote regions with few resources.