What You Need To Know About Infectious Disease
New infectious diseases are emerging and old ones are appearing in new places around the globe. What’s behind this trend? And to what extent has human behavior amplified the problem? The National Academies, advisers to the nation in science, engineering, and medicine, provide the information you need to understand this complex topic.
Infection
Microbes are all around us. Most don’t do any harm, and many are beneficial, but what about the few that cause infection? Learn the basics.
Threats
Certain aspects of disease are a particular threat to us today. What are some of the things we're most concerned about in the United States?
Challenges
National borders do little to block the path of infectious disease. Learn how our modern way of life contributes to the emergence and spread of diseases.
Prevention
What do we need to do—as individuals and as a society—to stave off the threat of emerging infectious disease?
Explore Other Topics
What do you know about infectious disease?
What fraction of all deaths worldwide are caused by infectious disease?
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
About one quarter of all deaths worldwide are caused by infectious disease. More than two-thirds of the deaths in children under the age of five are caused by infectious disease.
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Correct!
About one quarter of all deaths worldwide are caused by infectious disease. More than two-thirds of the deaths in children under the age of five are caused by infectious disease.
-
Sorry, that’s incorrect.
About one quarter of all deaths worldwide are caused by infectious disease. More than two-thirds of the deaths in children under the age of five are caused by infectious disease.
Infectious Disease Defined
- Epidemic
An often sudden increase in the level of disease in a specific population over a given period of time.
