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The Disease Threat

Highly resistant microbes in health-care settings, disease organisms that jump from animals to humans, and emerging dangerous pathogens create constant concern.

  • At least five microbes are resistant to nearly all available antibiotics.
  • CDC estimates that 1 in 6 Americans—48 million people—get sick from contaminated food each year. This costs the United States $77 billion every year in health care treatment and workplace and other economic losses.
  • Each year the flu costs businesses approximately $10.4 billion in direct costs for hospitalizations and outpatient visits for adults.

CDC continually introduces new technology and methods. But the rapid expansion of new threats calls for swift and broad application of new approaches.

The rapid expansion of new disease threats calls for swift and broad application of new laboratory approaches.
	People in motion on a crowded street

Emerging dangerous pathogens create constant concern.

  • Page last reviewed: October 16, 2015
  • Page last updated: October 16, 2015
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