Communicable diseases

Twenty-first century threats

What is the threat from communicable diseases in the twenty-first century? This article looks at the role of physical and socioeconomic factors in the spread of disease, and considers the international response to major outbreaks, using case studies of three infectious diseases

Ollie Davies

An awareness-raising sign about AIDS (SIDA in Portuguese) on a wall in Mozambique

Eighteen million people died from infectious (communicable) diseases in 2017, and it is estimated that these diseases will kill more people than cancer by 2050. At one time it was thought infectious diseases could be eradicated by the end of the twentieth century. But a number of factors mean that the threat may actually have increased:

■ Population movements, climate change, demographic shift and access to healthcare all contribute to the spread and prevalence of infectious disease.