Infectious diseases and millennium development goals (MDGs)

Abstract

Efficient management of “infectious diseases” (Ids: caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi; and spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another) is an important aspects of achieving overall Millennium Development Goals (MDGs: eight goals with measurable targets and clear deadlines for improving the lives of the world’s poorest people).1 Emerging infectious diseases are “those infectious diseases whose incidence of occurrence in humans has increased within the recent past or threatens to increase in the near future”. Such diseases also include those infections that (a) “appear in new geographic areas”, and/or (b) “increase abruptly”. The new infectious diseases and those which are re-emerging after a period of quiescence are also grouped under emerging infectious diseases.