"Infectious diseases such as COVID, plague, influenza, tuberculosis, smallpox, and HIV have wiped out tens of millions of people around the globe. In addition, they have left millions more suffering from chronic health problems or permanent disabilities. Overall, most experts agree that infectious diseases will continue to be a major health threat in the future. This is because existing diseases are extremely difficult to get rid of, and also because new diseases continually emerge"-- Provided by publisher.