Communicable Diseases
Gains in communicable disease control are slowing.
Since 2000, global HIV incidence has dropped by 54%. Also, new malaria vaccines offer hope to cut transmission and save lives, especially in high-burden regions. But progress on tuberculosis, hepatitis, neglected tropical diseases, and antimicrobial resistance is lagging behind 2030 targets. By 2021, communicable diseases caused 28% of global deaths, reversing earlier gains. Vector-borne diseases also remain a major, preventable threat, killing over 700,000 people annually.
Insights
Political: Although 178 countries have developed national plans to address AMR, only 27% are putting them into action effectively. Sustained political commitment will be essential to stay on track with the Sustainable Development Goal.
Economic: Infectious diseases continue to cause significant deaths and economic setbacks. The delays in meeting targets for tuberculosis and hepatitis highlight ongoing challenges in funding and delivering essential health services.
Social: Children, especially under five, bear disproportionate malaria and polio burdens. "Zero-dose" children highlight vaccine inequity in fragile settings.
Technological: Malaria vaccines and diagnostic advances offer hope, but slow rollout and AMR surveillance gaps hinder global response.
Legal: Absence of robust legal mandates for universal immunization and AMR monitoring limits enforcement and accountability.
Environmental: Climate change expands disease vectors for NTDs and malaria, threatening further spread in vulnerable populations.
Reflective Questions
How might we reinvigorate cross-disease strategies to regain momentum on communicable disease control?
What structural shifts are needed to implement AMR action plans with real impact?
How can innovation in vaccine development and delivery be scaled equitably and sustainably across high-burden regions?
Related Insight Cards
References:
World Health Organization, 2021. Global health estimates 2021. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/data/globalhealth-estimates
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 2023. The path that ends AIDS: UNAIDS Global AIDS update 2023. Geneva: UNAIDS. Available at: http://unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2023-unaids-global-aids-update_en.pdf
World Health Organization, n.d. HIV. The global health observatory [online database]. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/hiv-aids
World Health Organization, 2023. Antimicrobial resistance: accelerating national and global responses. WHO strategic and operational priorities to address drug-resistant bacterial infections in the human health sector, 2025–2035. Report by the Director-General. Geneva: World Health Organization. EB154/13. Available at: https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB154/B154_13-en.pdf
World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund, 2023. Immunization dashboard: global [WHO/UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage (WUENIC), 2022 revision] [website]. Geneva: World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund. Available at: https://immunizationdata.who.int/
World Health Organization, 2024. Vector-borne diseases. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases
