A Holistic View of Human Infectious Diseases: Challenges and Opportunities

The infectious diseases are thought to be a constant confrontation between two separate worlds, the microbial world and human world. Over the centuries, the evolution of the microorganisms has posed major health concerns particularly for the developing nations and leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the vulnerable population. The understanding of the chain of infection and public health strategies to break it plays a significant role in prevention and control of these infectious diseases. Although the battle against these infectious diseases was thought to be won by the developed nation through several preventive measures such as advent of vaccines, antibiotics, and public health reforms, but the emergence and re-emergence of novel pathogens are the new threats. These pathogens have the potential of frequent out breaks, extending beyond the borders and have become potential threat to the entire humanity. The unavailability of vaccines, non-judicial use of antibiotics and breech of public health interventions due to globalization, international trade and travelling, ecological and environmental changes along with zoonotic origin of pathogens are the major triggers. The introduction of newer technologies such as nanotechnology and nano chemistry has given new hopes to combat against these infectious diseases.