Major infectious diseases

Infectious diseases were responsible for the largest global burden of premature death and disability until the end of the twentieth century, when that distinction passed to noncommunicable diseases. Over the previous centuries, global pandemicsof infectious diseases, such as smallpox, cholera, and influenza, periodically threatened the survival of entire populations. By the mid-twentieth century, safe, effective, and affordable vaccines and the increasing availability of antibiotics had further reduced the toll of infectious diseases in high-income countries (HICs). The international health regulationsof the World Health Organization (WHO) represent a key agreement among 196 countries to implement metrics and measures to detect and control outbreaks of infectious diseases and to prevent pandemics. The authors provide updated estimates of the cost-effectiveness of the major sets of interventions, recognizing that there are large knowledge gaps concerning the economics of many conditions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The authors conclude by outlining future strategies that are relevant to continued progress against these major infectious diseases.