behavior; Technology and industry; Economic development and land use; International travel and commerce; Microbial adaptation and change; and Breakdown of public health measures. There have been other groupings of causative factors proposed related to re-emerging infections and in some instances we do not yet have a clue as to how new agents have appeared in animal and human populations. The problem of emerging infections is well exemplified by the many examples of new and emerging infectious diseases that have impacted upon localized populations and/or geographical areas over the past several decades. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS, first identified in 1981, portrays the significant impact that an infectious disease can have on the world. Presently HIV/AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death in the world and it remains the leading cause of death in Africa. The economic havoc it has created worldwide is frightening and its impact upon all peoples will remain embedded on mankind for decades. More geographically localized, but still creating worldwide concern, have been the haemorrhagic fevers, Nipah virus, and monkeypox. And more recently sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) exemplifies how the occurrence of a new and dangerous infectious disease can monopolize governmental activities, cause fear and hysteria, have a significant impact on the economy throughout the world and on the freedom of movement of people. We are bold in our attempts to control infectious diseases. We have eradicated one disease (smallpox) and two other diseases are in the final stages of eradication (poliomyelitis and dracunculiasis). These eradication programmes demonstrate how international collaboration and co-operation can significantly benefit the world. However, our goals must be realistic, that is, initiation of an eradication programme must be limited to the few diseases for which this is a valid goal. Control and prevention should be our main
behavior; Technology and industry; Economic development and land use; International travel and commerce; Microbial adaptation and change; and Breakdown of public health measures. There have been other groupings of causative factors proposed related to re-emerging infections and in some instances we do not yet have a clue as to how new agents have appeared in animal and human populations. The problem of emerging infections is well exemplified by the many examples of new and emerging infectious diseases that have impacted upon localized populations and/or geographical areas over the past several decades. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS, first identified in 1981, portrays the significant impact that an infectious disease can have on the world. Presently HIV/AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death in the world and it remains the leading cause of death in Africa. The economic havoc it has created worldwide is frightening and its impact upon all peoples will remain embedded on mankind for decades. More geographically localized, but still creating worldwide concern, have been the haemorrhagic fevers, Nipah virus, and monkeypox. And more recently sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) exemplifies how the occurrence of a new and dangerous infectious disease can monopolize governmental activities, cause fear and hysteria, have a significant impact on the economy throughout the world and on the freedom of movement of people. We are bold in our attempts to control infectious diseases. We have eradicated one disease (smallpox) and two other diseases are in the final stages of eradication (poliomyelitis and dracunculiasis). These eradication programmes demonstrate how international collaboration and co-operation can significantly benefit the world. However, our goals must be realistic, that is, initiation of an eradication programme must be limited to the few diseases for which this is a valid goal. Control and prevention should be our main