The National Academies
What You Need To Know About Infectious Disease
Global Challenges
Infectious disease isn’t limited by national borders. Learn how our modern way of life contributes to the spread and emergence of disease.
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Disease Watchlist
What do you know about infectious disease?
True or False: If you have a cold or the flu, taking antibiotics will help treat the infection.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections, not viral infections such as influenza and the common cold. In fact, inappropriate use and overuse of antibiotics contributes to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.
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Correct!
Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections, not viral infections such as influenza and the common cold. In fact, inappropriate use and overuse of antibiotics contributes to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.
Infectious Disease Defined
- Category A Agents
A class of biological agents that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention views as posing the highest priority risk to U.S. national security.
National Academies Press
Search the National Academies Press website by selecting one of these related terms.
Source Material
- The Causes and Impacts of Neglected Tropical and Zoonotic Diseases: Opportunities for Integrated Intervention Strategies—Workshop Summary (2011)
- Infectious Disease Movement in a Borderless World—Workshop Summary (2010)
- Global Issues in Water, Sanitation, and Health—Workshop Summary (2009)
- Global Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events: Understanding the Contributions to Infectious Disease Emergence—Workshop Summary (2008)
- The Impact of Globalization on Infectious Disease Emergence and Control: Exploring the Consequences and Opportunities—Workshop Summary (2006)
- The Smallpox Vaccination Program: Public Health in an Age of Terrorism (2005)
