This report, (HLP 143-I, session 2007-08, ISBN 9780104013304) is from a new ad hoc Select Committee on Intergovernmental Organisations and reviews the effectiveness with which such organisations are tackling the global spread of infectious diseases and how the UK's membership is beneficial. The advent of globalisation and changes in human lifestyles have enabled new infections to emerge. The Committee has taken evidence from many organisations including governmental, intergovernmental, charitable and private sources and that the general landscape of international health is crowded and poorly coordinated. Despite this, the Committee believes that the process of coordinating structures has to be evolutionary and that the leadership function must rest with the World Health Organisation. Further, that the WHO's remit and resources should be developed in order to encourage and support collaboration and rationalisation amongst the various bodies. The targeting of specific diseases or groups of diseases needs to be done in coordination with improving the quality and quantity of health systems generally. This coordinated approach is specifically required in the area of infectious disease surveillance, with many developing countries seriously deficient in this respect. The Committee also believes that the focus has been on the treatment of infectious diseases as opposed to prevention, creating an imbalance in investment. There should also be more effective coordination between intergovernmental systems conducting surveillance of human and animal diseases. For Vol. 2, Evidence (see ISBN 9780104013298).

Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death globally, particularly among children and young adults. The spread of new pathogens and the threat of antimicrobial resistance pose particular challenges in combating these diseases. Major Infectious Diseases identifies feasible, cost-effective packages of interventions and strategies across delivery platforms to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, malaria, adult febrile illness, viral hepatitis, and neglected tropical diseases. The volume emphasizes the need to effectively address emerging antimicrobial resistance, strengthen health systems, and increase access to care. The attainable goals are to reduce incidence, develop innovative approaches, and optimize existing tools in resource-constrained settings.

This compelling account charts the relentless trajectory of humankind, and its changing survival and disease patterns, across place and time from when our ancient ancestors roamed the African Savannah to today's populous, industrialised, globalising world. This expansion of human frontiers - geographic, climatic, cultural and technological - has encountered frequent setbacks from disease, famine and dwindling resources. The social and environmental transformations wrought by agrarianism, industrialisation, fertility control, social modernisation, urbanisation and mass consumption have profoundly affected patterns of health and disease. Today, as life expectancies rise, the planet's ecosystems are being damaged by the combined weight of population size and intensive economic activity. Global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion and loss of biodiversity pose large-scale hazards to human health and survival. Recognising this, can we achieve a transition to sustainability? This and other profound questions underlie this chronicle of expansive human activity, social change, environmental impact and their health consequences.