Antibiotics save millions of lives each year around the world, but the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals present challenges to fighting infectious diseases.

A group of pregnant women and mothers in the mountain village of Karmirghuygh, Armenia, recently participated in a health education training session during which presenters used the WiRED International Gestational Diabetes (GD) module.

Anemia affects an estimated 1.62 billion people or nearly one quarter of the world’s population. The highest instance of anemia occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Anemia often accompanies other conditions, such as malnutrition and malaria. Pets as well as people can suffer from anemia.

Globally 371 million people have diabetes, about half undiagnosed. As the diabetes epidemic rises rapidly in low and middle income countries, so do the costs of medicine and treatment.

WiRED is proud to spotlight the recent publication of Fundamentals of Cancer Prevention, edited by WiRED Honorary Board member David S. Alberts, M.D., and Lisa M. Hess, Ph.D.

WiRED International hosted a reception at Scala’s Bistro in San Francisco, California, this October to mark another year of providing medical and health information programs to underserved communities around the world. Eighty-five people attended the event and talked about WiRED’s programs and mission with WiRED Board members and volunteers, many from the Bay Area.

WiRED International announces the launch of the Community Health Education Initiative in Honor of the late U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. Board Chair Anthony Hodge and the ambassador’s sister, Anne Marguerite Stevens, M.D., Ph.D., unveiled the initiative during a recent WiRED reception in San Francisco, California. WiRED has established a special fund to underwrite this program, which began with generous contributions from Mr. Hodge and Dr. Stevens.

What is the first line of defense against almost all infectious diseases? Yes, that’s right — handwashing. Handwashing is key to the prevention of everything from the common cold to Ebola.

Flu season typically occurs between October and May. Have you gotten your flu shot yet? “Get vaccinated,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden, M.D., said. “That’s the best way to protect yourself, your family and your community against flu.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report upticks in global cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV).