Global Health: Why Disease Doesn't Stop at Borders

Disease crosses borders

The spread of disease doesn't stop at a country's borders. With more people living in crowded cities and traveling abroad, germs spread more easily, and an infection that starts in one part of the world can quickly reach another.

Major diseases affecting countries around the globe include:

• HIV;
• malaria;
• COVID-19;
• tuberculosis.

Other global challenges

• Drug resistance: resistance to medicines such as antibiotics is rising, making some diseases harder to treat.
• Disasters: natural and man-made disasters create refugee populations with immediate and long-term health problems.
• Climate change.
• Food and water: too little access to food and safe water.

Working together

Many countries and health organizations work together and share information on these and other health issues.

Sources

Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Global Health," National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.