A world without deadly infectious diseases
Today, the world is closer than ever to wiping out some of its deadliest diseases. In the coming years and decades, we could rid the world of polio, malaria, and Guinea worm; bring diseases like tuberculosis and HIV under control as manageable conditions; and protect every child from vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, pneumonia, and more.
8.22
M
Deaths from infectious diseases, 1980 to 2023 (Our world in Data/IHME)
Why ending infectious diseases matters:
- Infectious diseases have killed over 8 million people since 1980.
- Today, we are reducing the burden of these diseases—and the world is closer than ever to wiping out some for good.
Our goal is to ensure the next generation grows up safe from deadly infectious diseases.
How we work to end infectious diseases
We focus on a few core priorities:
Immunization
We work with partners to develop safe and effective vaccines that protect against measles, pneumonia, diarrhea, and other preventable diseases, and by expanding access to these life-saving vaccines for people in lower-income countries.
HIV
We focus our efforts in some of the countries hardest hit by HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among populations that are at greatest risk of infection, including adolescent girls and young women.
Malaria
We have devoted resources and expertise to a relentless pursuit of malaria eradication. We support efforts to reduce the burden of malaria, accelerate progress toward eradication, and get ahead of drug and insecticide resistance.
Polio
We make grants to partners and contribute technical and financial resources to develop more effective vaccines, expanding routine immunizations, improve polio surveillance and outbreak response, and more.
Tuberculosis
Our tuberculosis team aims to address key gaps along the TB care pathway through new approaches to protecting against infection, preventing progression from infection to disease, and improving diagnosis and treatment.
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