Global Biodefense October 5, 2020
Researchers in Australia regard malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS as the “big three” infectious diseases. Together they are responsible for about 2.7 million deaths a year around the world. Although anti-malarial drugs are routinely used to treat and prevent malaria infection, the emergence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is a major cause of death and a serious public health concern. Since the discovery of HIV in the 1980s, the disease has caused 33 million deaths. Some 38 million people have HIV/AIDS worldwide. There is currently no cure or protective vaccine. The current pandemic highlights the need for governments, NGOs and philanthropists to support this work — and scientific research more broadly. Ultimately, COVID-19 has raised public awareness of the type of scientific challenges researchers encounter every day. There is neither a silver bullet nor a shortcut in the development of a safe and effective vaccine…read more.