Thought to be a problem of the past, infectious diseases currently impact two million Americans a year and kill over 100,000. Prevalence can be partially attributed to the overuse of antibiotic drugs and antibacterial products, leading to the increase in antibiotic resistance, as well as the decline in vaccine usage. Globalization has increased the occurrence of travel to areas of the world in which infectious diseases have not been eradicated and, consequently, has increased the risk of transference to the people of the United States. Unfounded fears of vaccinations have resulted in an increased risk of infection to the susceptible groups within the population. In conclusion, the education of the general population is key in combating this "Rising Plague".