[Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases].

Health experts are expressing concern that the United States may begin to see cases of new or reemerging diseases, and some of those diseases may seem unusual in the fact that they are thought to be tropical or exotic in nature. However, in today’s very mobile world the health care community is no longer immune to disease because of distance. We are now living in a global environment in which we must begin to think of healthcare in terms of the world in general, not just the bounds of the continent upon which we live. With international air travel more common, it is possible for any disease or virus to be transported from its point of origin to the North American continent within a 24-hour period of time.