The pharmaceutical industrys perspective on available agents.

The major diseases of developing countries are caused by various types of worms fungi protozoa bacteria viruses rickettsiae and other less well-defined pathogens. The following are 3 different strategies for prevention treatment and eventual eradication of these various infectious diseases: 1) strengthening the human host through immunization correction of nutritional deficiencies and use of drugs; 2) modification of the environment to lower risk of contact between the human population and the pathogens through sterilization ecology and reservoir control; and 3) destruction of pathogens after invasion of the body by chemotherapeutic agents or by specific immunotherapy. Of the 87 infectious diseases specifically mentioned mass immunization methods exist against 10 of them excellent chemotherapy exists for 23 others satisfactory chemotherapy for 22 unsatisfactory chemotherapy against 22 and no chemotherapy against 10.