WHO, the World Health Organization, has issued its annual report of health threats around the world and you’d think it would be dull reading—I suppose it would for those who don’t care what happens in the world. I found it instructive, scary, helpful, and informing about what our priorities ought to be. It is also a reminder that no country is an island. What happens far away affects us eventually. Here is the list. Please note the first threat, due to air pollution and climate change, and note too the threat coming from what they term here vaccine hesitancy. While it is true that some have the right to not be vaccinated, we must now ask when does that right contribute to a public health threat?
- Air Pollution and Climate Change (yes!!!)
- Non Communicable Diseases (e.g. alcohol, tobacco, diet)
- Global Influenza Pandemic (will come but don’t know when and how strong)
- Fragile and Vulnerable Settings (drought, displacements)
- Anti-Microbial Resistance (including diseases like TB)
- Ebola and Other High Threat Pathogens (we already know what happens)
- Weak Primary Health Care (lack, access and cost)
- Vaccine Hesitancy (something that is growing in the US)
- Dengue (390 million infections a year)
- HIV (still affecting many millions)