pandemics

Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray is working on legislation with Republican Sen. Richard Burr to apply the lessons of the last two years to future public health emergencies.

People were dropping dead in Malaysia, and no one could figure out why their brains were swelling. A young scientist solved the mystery. Then he had to get people to believe him.

Dr. Margaret Chan, head of the World Health Organization, offered congratulations for victories on the health front — and words of serious concern about the future.

Author Sonia Shah says that urbanization and air travel put the global population at an increased risk for disease. "Zika is a great example of how new pathogens are emerging today," she says.