SPOTLIGHT: New infectious disease challenges emerge


In the sixties, physicians were confident enough to predict the end of infectious disease control issues. Today, in 2006, scientists and physicians know how wrong they were, said Dr. Antony Fauci, director of the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, who spoke at the Mid-Atlantic Bio conference this week. Public officials face more challenges than ever, including the possibility of a bird flu epidemic, anthrax attacks, SARS, extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis and the worldwide HIV/AIDS crisis. It's time for the world to pour more dollars and research into addressing some of these other emerging threats, Fauci said. Article