COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN DEVELOPING-COUNT RIES

The incidence of AIDS and tuberculosis continues to soar in developing countries. The resources available for fighting these diseases are wo efully inadequate. Cholera has become less prevalent than in 1991 and 1992, but persists at a level superior to that seen in the 30 previous years of the seventh pandemic. A new vibrion (Vibrio cholerae O139) h as caused epidemics of diarrhea typical of cholera in the Indian subco ntinent. New diarrhea-causing agents belonging to the classes Microspo ridia and Coccidia have been identified. The morbidity and mortality o f malaria remains rather elevated. Few geographical zones are now free of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, but in certain regions (nota bly Africa) the decline of chloroquine sensitivity seems to have stabi lized. In many situations, this agent remains useful as basic curative treatment for semi-immune subjects. Malaria is the object of numerous research endeavors, both in terms of basic (genetic susceptibility, a nti-malarial vaccines) and clinical science (the study of artemisinine derivatives in curative therapy). Notable progress has been realized toward the eradication of Guinea worms and poliomyelitis, and combinat ion chemotherapy has brought new hopes for leprosy control.