Group urges greater focus on infectious diseases

With less money being allocated to public health in the United States and weak infrastructure in nations plagued by malaria and tuberculosis, the Trust for America’s Health is calling for greater focus on infectious diseases (Source: "Focus urged on deadly diseases,” Columbus Dispatch, Oct. 30, 2008).

"I think there has not been nearly enough attention and, perhaps more importantly, resources to handle the ongoing crisis as it relates to infectious diseases," said Dr. Larry Schlesinger, who directs Ohio State University's division of infectious disease and the Center for Microbial Interface Biology.

According to a report by the Trust for America’s Health, 170,000 Americans die annually as a result of infectious diseases. In addition, one-fourth of hospitalizations are directly related to infectious diseases, and 10 percent to 20 percent of people who go into American hospitals without infections leave with one.