Globalization helps spread infectious diseases, scientists say

Published: 2004-11-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Globalization has led to the spread of infectious diseases and to the re-emergence of once-dormant diseases, particularly in the developing world, said speakers at a Vatican conference. Population increases, global warming and easy travel are all contributing to the ease with which infectious diseases are spread, said speakers at the workshop, "Interactions Between Global Change and Human Health." The conference was held Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. "We're worrying about a sick world becoming even sicker," said Andrew P. Dobson, epidemiology professor at Princeton University in New Jersey and a meeting participant. "Sicker in many ways -- more people on the planet and a warmer climate increase the opportunity for disease to spread." Besides well-known diseases like AIDS, malaria and cholera, "there are more new diseases than we are able to keep up with," Dobson said. Sicknesses thought to be under control, such as malaria and tuberculosis, are coming back, he said.

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