COVID-19 was a massive public health crisis that essentially brought the world to a standstill for nearly two years—and we’re still not out of the woods. The disease continues to spread.
Yet even as the threat of COVID-19 has subsided somewhat from the early days of 2020, other diseases continue to wreak havoc around the world, especially in lower-income countries and impoverished areas. The following are some of the most significant global health issues affecting the world right now.
COVID-19
While most of the world’s population is somewhat shielded from COVID-19 (with vaccines or natural immunity via previous infections), it remains a major respiratory virus. It has been evolving, and new variants keep on appearing, requiring boosters. In the 28 days up to December 1, 2024, over 180,000 active COVID-19 cases had been officially reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Although most of these were mild, some people are at a greater risk of serious complications from it, such as those whose immune systems are compromised and those who have other health conditions as well. This makes COVID-19 a significant threat for many people, especially those who already the most vulnerable—this includes groups like older adults, people who are already sick or weak, people who have little or no access to healthcare, people who are homeless, and refugees and displaced persons.
WHO continues to encourage an annual booster for vulnerable individuals, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months should get the latest 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. This is vital since only around 70% of the entire world has received at least one dose. Meanwhile, only about 32% have been boosted.
Malaria
Malaria still stands as one of the most fatal infectious diseases that strikes millions of persons around the world, with about 263 million being infected, resulting in nearly 600,000 deaths each year. The number of cases has climbed since 2015, too. These statistics are particularly troubling, because malaria is spread by the anopheles mosquito, which easily breeds in tropical regions where poverty is endemic. Countries such as Nigeria, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania are among those most affected by malaria. The disease puts an extraordinary burden on impoverished communities that are also affected by a variety of other health and social challenges.
Sadly, 75% of all malaria-related deaths occur among children aged 5 years and younger in the most affected regions. Although malaria itself is treatable, many people do not have easy access to healthcare services; thus, thousands find themselves fighting against the infection without help. Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and chills. Pregnant women, children, and people with AIDS are among those particularly at risk of dying from malaria.
In communities with little access to healthcare, preventing malaria is critical. Fortunately, there are cheap and relatively simple ways to stop the spread of the disease. This can be accomplished with mosquito nets, window screens, mosquito repellents, and protective clothing. In addition, two relatively new vaccines are recommended by WHO to prevent malaria, and WHO reported in December 2024 that 17 African countries with the most malaria cases now offer the vaccine as part of their routine childhood immunization programs. There’s still a long way to go before this disease is eradicated, however.
Tuberculosis
Many are oblivious to the fact that tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s deadliest infectious disease, killing around 1.3 million people each year. TB, like other major health epidemics, disproportionately affects people in low-income and impoverished areas: over 95% of deaths from tuberculosis occur in countries with low- and middle incomes. It’s considered under control in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean it’s gone away. Some 13 million Americans have inactive TB (meaning they’re infected with the bacteria, but it’s not causing symptoms.)
Most cases of TB in the U.S. affect racial and ethnic minorities. People in nursing homes, prisons, homeless shelters, and people who have been homeless are all at higher risk of TB. The relative invisibility of tuberculosis in the media in the U.S. and wealthy Western countries may be partly due to the fact that it is a “disease of poverty.” It preys on people who are already struggling.
TB is a communicable disease, mainly affecting the lungs and transmitted by infected individuals via the inhalation of droplets expelled when they cough or sneeze. Inactive TB may remain dormant until some illness, like AIDS or cancer, or other vulnerabilities like malnutrition, compromise the immune system. It is at this point that the disease actively attacks the lungs.
TB is treatable with a combination of antibiotics and other medications, but the treatment can be long and may last for 6-12 months. This long, relatively complicated, and sometimes very expensive treatment regimen can be a huge burden, especially to people in need. Increasingly, drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis are emerging because many patients cannot finish the entire course of antibiotics prescribed to them, precisely because the treatment is so burdensome.
Cholera
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which spreads in contaminated water and food. Diarrhea is such a severe threat that it can cause extreme dehydration and, without treatment, even death. It’s an easily treatable disease, but in places without access to healthcare, that’s a moot point. Cholera remains a major threat to people who lack clean, safe drinking water and basic healthcare.
WHO estimates that cholera kills anywhere from 21,000 to 143,000 people every year. In 2024, a multi-country cholera outbreak appeared, with Africa and the Middle East at the epicenter. Conflicts like the wars in Gaza and Sudan and related mass displacement crises are behind this recent surge in cases. With nowhere to turn, refugees and internally displaced persons are forced to live in camps and temporary shelters where clean water and access to toilets and sanitation may be nonexistent—the perfect breeding ground for cholera.
Clean water and sanitation are vital in preventing cholera, so W.A.S.H (water, sanitation, and hygiene) projects and investments in clean water infrastructure can make a huge difference in protecting vulnerable groups from the disease.
Islamic Relief USA’s Healthcare Initiatives
Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) is a nonprofit organization operating in the U.S. and around the world to mitigate poverty. One of its major areas of work is healthcare for communities in need. About half of the world’s population (or nearly 3.5 billion people) do not have access to even the most minimal healthcare, thus putting them at greater risk for the diseases mentioned above.
IRUSA runs several programs designed to provide healthcare in underserved areas, such as Palestine and Somalia, as well as within Syrian refugee populations. To combat diseases like cholera and provide safe, clean water, IRUSA has also launched WASH projects in countries like Ghana, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia. Read more about these programs and how you can help at https://irusa.org/health/ and https://irusa.org/water/.