Without concerted and coordinated political action, the gains achieved in reducing the burden of infectious disease will be washed away as a new wave of preventable illnesses engulfs those least able to protect themselves.

On Monday, NATO will meet to authorize action.

We shouldn't wait for a major outbreak of mad cow disease to take greater preventive action. There is no question that we should not be feeding the remains of any mammals to food animals, and by not closing this dangerous loophole, we are exposing the American public to unnecessary risk.

Many countries where the disease is endemic have already taken action but they are overwhelmed by the situation and require urgent assistance. Fighting the disease in animals is key to our success in limiting the threat of a human pandemic. We know that the virus is being spread by wild birds but we need more research to fully understand their role.

Nothing will change until we change - until we throw off our dependence and act for ourselves.

AIDS has always been a political disease and it was absolutely anathema to talk about AIDS during the Reagan administration. Applications to study AIDS in the early 80s were buried. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop was barred from making public statements about AIDS until 1986.