INFECTIOUS DISEASES: NEW WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REPORT The World Health Organization has issued a report stating that 6 infectious diseases account for half of all deaths among children and young adults less than 44 years of age worldwide. The diseases are AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, measles, diarrheal illnesses, and acute respiratory infections. The report states that the cost of preventing such diseases ranges from a maximum of US$20 per person to 35 cents per person, and that 11 million people died in 1998 due to such diseases. The report notes that malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS have claimed six times as many lives in the past 50 years as military and civilian casualties from all wars over the same period. David Heyman, Executive Director of the World Health Organization, in an issued statement, expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens and urged the world community to take action against the important infectious diseases before drug-resistance makes such action more difficult. Heyman noted that "drug resistance is sending us back in history to a time when we lacked medicines to cure some diseases." (SWB 17 Jun 99) ================================================================= Anyone can receive SW BULLETIN free via Email. To subscribe to SW Bulletin, transmit SUB BULLETIN as the subject of an Email message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ================================================================= SCIENCEWEEK, a weekly Email research digest devoted to improving communication between the sciences, and between scientists, science educators, and science policy-makers. ---- jeff's comments. Is the cure to disease problems new drugs? Should we be looking at causes and asking if prevention is a better answer? How does population density fit into the growth of disease? Do we focus on CURES because it is easy and modifying human behavior is beyond our ability? My view is that science is useful but the real solution to disease is elsewhere. We need to stop behavior that builds immunity in disease pathogens and helps spread them. This thinking eventually leads to a new model for sustainable society. ---------- Jeff Owens ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Zone 7, http://www.teleport.com/~kowens Underground house, solar energy, reduced consumption, no TV
