Surveillance and control of infectious diseases: progress toward the 1990 objectives.

Great progress has been made in the United States in reducing infectious disease mortality. However, infectious diseases remain the greatest cause of morbidity in this country. Newer infectious diseases or agents have been recognized, but newer tools for surveillance and control have also been made available. Specific objectives for the reduction of infectious diseases by 1990 have been set by the Public Health Service. The opportunities appear to be good for achieving by 1990 objectives for nosocomial infections, Legionnaires' disease, tuberculosis, and surveillance and control of infectious diseases. Achievement of the 1990 objectives for hepatitis B, pneumococcal pneumonia, and bacterial meningitis, however, will require both scientific advances and additional resources.