MEDICAL AND HEALTH ISSUES
Perhaps the most serious problem facing humanity in the future will be out of control diseases. In the long run this may be a bigger threat than terrorism. Today, bacteria and viruses are becoming stronger and more lethal. The increasing ability of bacteria to become immune to antibiotics along with a more mobile population can result in a disastrous spreading of disease. Future problems could be far worst than the 1918-1919 influenza which killed 20 million people--more than World War I going on at the same time. A strong virus similar to the HIV virus, but transmitted aerially, could be disastrous in the future.
The attack on the United States by terrorists in 2001 sounded the alarm that the unthinkable can happen. World leaders must recognize that the a major war must also be waged against new and powerful diseases. Certainly new drug and prevention research is needed. Increased sanitation around the world will be also be a significant factor. But this may not be enough.
Medical science may have to turn to non-chemical technologies to fight these future diseases. Recently a "camera type pill" has been developed that when swallowed provides a video image of the entire intestine system, looking for problems such as cancer. A patient wears a recorder on a belt that records the images from this pill device. It is much more accurate and thorough than techniques such as X-raying or colonoscopy. Future more advanced "pills" or nanobots could incorporate complete micro computer devices that would search out and destroy invading bacteria and viruses. These nanobots will have a knowledge of a person's DNA and will check cells to determine if they are natural or foreign and consequently need to be destroyed.
For More Information:
NanoMedicine -- MIT Technology Review
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