You could be forgiven for thinking communicable illnesses, like HIV/AIDS, and the newly feared bird flu, are the major disease threats for Asia in the next and coming decades.
After all, an APEC meeting has been called to focus on bird flu, scientists are fretting over a bird-flu vaccine, and Asian bird-flu casualties are being cited as early signs of a potential pandemic.
Every year we hear the increased Asian death forecasts for HIV/AIDS, as the disease continues its relentless march of devastation in the region.