Taken from the Georgetown University website:
“Global Infectious Disease” can be defined in different ways. In general, all definitions list important new and “re emerging” infectious diseases that were once unknown or thought to be waning, along with recognition that drug resistance, hygiene, economic and environmental factors have promoted both reemergence and horrendously increased mortality... Although the human cost of Global Infectious Disease should be more than enough to motivate even the most hardened of individuals to do more, it is now also obvious that the rippling effect on the global economy and worldwide political stability threatens all human kind and at all levels. Better integrating emerging infectious disease science concepts into political and social problem solving is a serious challenge that must be met.
Here's an example of what a collaboration in this field looks like from a group of high school students in the US and India.