Every year, 50 million people throughout the world contract amebiasis through contaminated food or water. With this shocking statistic, it is considered the third leading cause of illness and the fourth leading cause of death due to protozoan infection on a global basis.

Pharmaceutical drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but later re-called from the market—such as the antidiabetic drug Avandia and pain-reliever Vioxx—were the impetus for an Institute of Medicine committee report released yesterday, recommending that the FDA take proactive steps to continue monitoring drugs' safety after initial approval and throughout their time on the market.

Media Inquiries: Stephanie Yao, 301-796-0394, stephanie.yao@fda.hhs.gov Consumer Inquiries:

SILVER SPRING, Md., Dec.

SILVER SPRING, Md., Dec.