The concept that infectious (and other) diseases emerge and reemerge is not new, and neither is the search for causes of disease emergence. However, societies frequently overlook or forget that microbes evolve, adapt, and emerge in response to nonmicrobial and even nonbiologic changes in the physical and social environment. Sometimes we need to be rudely reminded of this lesson. Two scientists ...

In ITI countries the antibiotic used is Zithromax (azithromycin), donated by Pfizer. A single oral dose of Zithromax once a year is as effective as the standard treatment of tetracycline eye ointment 2 times a day for 6 weeks. The ITI is currently working in five countries: Morocco, Tanzania, Mali, Ghana, and Vietnam. The ITI works with ministries of health to devise an operating plan and joins...