Modern medicine was largely established by the 1940s, creating a sense that many treatments are now routine and safe. We expect procedures like C-sections or knee replacements to be predictable and low-risk because it feels as though medicine has built an almost impenetrable barrier against bacteria and other threats.

We perceive bacteria as trivial noise that we largely solved decades ago. However, this perception is misleading. When examining current global health data, the once-impenetrable wall appears more like a broken chain-link fence. This reality is frightening because, when considering infectious disease models for the next decade, we see a medical landscape that is rapidly and worryingly unravelling.

Let's unpack this: the idea that we are completely safe has been shattered. We have a substantial body of sources—including  ...