People around the world are living longer thanks to advances in public health during the first decade of the 21st century, according to a June 24 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Scientific, technical, legal, and political advances have all contributed to improving living conditions around the world, according to the report (MMWR 2011;60:814-8). Fewer people are dying from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV infections; more have access to clean water; and attention is being focused on eradicating tropical diseases such as dracunculiasis caused by guinea worms.
"I think it’s very uplifting to see where we were and we are now," Dr. Larry Slutsker, associate director of science in the Center for Global Health at the CDC, said in an interview. "It's difficult to see progress day to day when you work in public health, so when you look back and see access and coverage has improved and mortality declines, and it's very gratifying."
These advances, as well as other factors, are causing a shift in the mortality burden from infectious to non-infectious diseases, Dr. Slutsker pointed out. By 2030, 75% of deaths globally will be attributed to these noncommunicable diseases, according to the report.
The infectious diseases, meanwhile, won’t be going away. So, addressing the two categories of disease will be a balancing act, said Dr. Slutsker.
Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC director, highlighted the role of the United States in the global public health improvement. "There are still far too many people who die from conditions that are easily preventable. Continued investments will help millions more live healthy and productive lives, while helping to protect our own country from health threats," he said in a statement.