According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, mankind has foolishly underestimated the potential threat posed by bacteria and viruses to millions.
Even with the widespread use of antibiotics, infectious diseases still kill 13 million annually-about half that figure in prosperous countries.
Increasing resistance to antibiotics is a major factor. TB drugs are losing some of their effectiveness and those used to combat malaria have lost their cutting edge in Asia and Africa. "The minute we let down our guard, infectious diseases come back," said David Heymann, WHO's Director of Infectious Disease Control. The steady increase in international travel poses a serious threat to future disease control ( USA Today, June 18, 1999).
