Communicable Disease and Control

Abstract Control of communicable diseases is one of the core components in health protection practice. This chapter describes key concepts and principles related to communicable diseases and their management. According to World Health Organization, the number of deaths due to communicable diseases reduced from 12.1 million in 2000 to 9.5 million in 2012. However, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and neglected tropical diseases remain the major health challenges for the global community. Moreover, new emergent and re-emerging diseases constantly present new health risks. For the coming decades, globalization, changing behavioural patterns, lifestyle, and technological outcomes will pose major challenge to communicable disease control and management. The increasingly urbanized lifestyle and high-density-based living will also render most city-based communities vulnerable to living environmental pressure and communicable disease risks. Effectiveness and success in future communicable disease control rely on global coordination and cooperation.