October 02, 2008

AIDS VIRUS TURNS OUT TO BE a century old. Worrisome question: What other nasty bugs are lurking out there, waiting to suddenly break out into the world?

I don't know, but it's a reason for working hard on advances in biotechnology and nanotechnology, so that we'll be ready when they do. And that's leaving aside the threat of biological warfare or terrorism. We've been neglecting public health for too long. Yeah, I've been beating this drum for a while, but it's just as important as it was -- and we're still not doing enough.

UPDATE: Reader Rob Crawford writes:

Actually, I would argue that we haven't neglected public health in terms of funding -- we've just let it get turned towards other matters that aren't, strictly speaking, public health. Gun control, diet, smoking, exercise -- all HEALTH related, arguably, but not PUBLIC HEALTH matters. I don't know if it's because of the politics of the people involved, or if it's just a matter of traditional public health issues not being "exciting" enough, but it sure would be nice if fewer tax dollars went to political crusades masking as health issues and more went towards educating people about vaccinations, basic sanitation, etc.

Back in the 1970s, it was widely believed that infectious disease had been conquered, which naturally led public-health types to look for other work. That belief turned out to be tragically erroneous, but that "other work" has continued as people found that it was easier, safer, and less "icky" than actually dealing with sick people and their environments. And yes, that needs to be turned around by redirecting funding. Unfortunately, the "social" style of public health pleases political activists and foundations who find helping to prevent disease insufficiently "relevant."