“a recent global increase in infectious diseases “ just might have something to do with rapidly increasing populations and far less population isolation.
It's also due to media attention.
People aren't any more or less stupid that ever and spread/don't spread diseases the same way that's been done for eons.
The poor and uneducated bear the brunt, as they've ALWAYS done throughout time. Nothing has changed no matter how hard the do-gooders try.
Drunks and drug addicts will do what they darn well want to. Punks, jerks, aholes and fools will continue to blunder their way through life, even with all the "help" of education.
SIN.