The physicians of Texas Medical Association encourage you to learn more about infectious diseases and how to prevent them.
Infectious diseases are the world's leading causes of death.
And common diseases like influenza and pneumonia remain among the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Diseases like tuberculosis and cholera have been re-emerging in large numbers around the country and globally for many reasons. Perhaps the most significant reason is travel both in and out of the country and the globalization of the world's populations. When people travel or disturb remote areas, microbes that have been previously undisturbed or have mutated to form a new strain can infect travelers and be carried to a new country. Especially in developing countries where antibiotics are not administered for the entire length of the illness or are used for viral or other non-bacterial illnesses, infectious diseases have the opportunity to mutate and return in fiercer strains that antibiotics cannot treat.