Infectious diseases - new and ancient threats to world health.
When smallpox was eradicated from the globe in the late 1970s, many health experts assumed that infectious and parasitic diseases (IPDs) could at long last be conquered. Death rates from infectious and parasitic diseases had declined during the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century thanks to better public health and sanitation as well as medical advances made possible by economic development. During this period, scientists discovered the germ theory of disease, identified the epidemiology and natural history of many infectious diseases, and created a host of potent antibiotic drugs that helped save millions of lives. Medical researchers learned to identify and cultivate viruses, which led to vaccines for increasing numbers of diseases.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 938147
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/CMB/JA-27590; TRN: US200906%%531
- Journal Information:
- Popul. Bull., Vol. 52, Issue 2 ; Jul. 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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