What are three factors that have contributed to the development of emerging infectious diseases?
Show
AbstractIn the past two decades, humans have faced many new viral infectious agents in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). Many factors contribute to the appearance of EIDs. These factors are complex but can be classified into three different categories: virus factors, human factors, and ecological factors. The factors contributing to the cause of such viral infectious diseases will be systematically reviewed in this article. KeywordsEmerging infectious diseases Re-emerging infectious diseases Viral infectious diseases Cited by (0)Copyright © 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, emerging infectious diseases are commonly defined as: Outbreaks of previously unknown
diseases Known diseases that are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range in the last 2 decades Persistence of infectious diseases that cannot be controlled. Emerging diseases include HIV infections, SARS, Lyme disease, Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli), hantavirus, dengue fever, West Nile virus, and the Zika virus. Reemerging diseases are diseases that reappear after they have been on a significant decline. Reemergence may happen because of a breakdown in public health measures for diseases that were once under control. They can also happen when new strains of known disease-causing organisms appear. Human behavior affects reemergence. For example, overuse of antibiotics has led to disease-causing organisms that are resistant to medicines. It has allowed a return of diseases that once were treatable and controllable. Reemerging diseases include malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, pertussis, influenza, pneumococcal disease, and gonorrhea. Travelers should be aware that some diseases thought to be under control in the United States may be experiencing an outbreak in other countries. Ask for information and take precautions before being exposed to one of these diseases. What is the risk of emerging infectious diseases?Traveling abroad can put you at risk for infectious diseases that are not widespread in the United States. Travelers who become ill in a country where treatment for these diseases may be somewhat limited are even more at risk. All people planning travel should become informed about the potential hazards of the countries they are traveling to. Learn how to reduce their risk of getting these diseases. Why are travel-related infectious diseases on the rise?It is believed that increased global travel is the reason for the recent renewal of many infectious diseases in the United States. The number of people traveling internationally is increasing every year, and more people are taking trips to remote parts of the world. These often have unfamiliar health problems as well as underdeveloped healthcare services. Many travelers are also unaware of potential hazards in different parts of the world and do not take the necessary precautions. These include getting necessary vaccines or taking preventive medicine. Many of the newly discovered infections have actually been in existence for a long time, but healthcare providers have not seen them in areas where new outbreaks happen. With people's ability today to travel anywhere in the world within 36 hours or less, formerly little-known infections are picked up and rapidly spread to areas where they previously did not exist. How can travelers reduce their risk from infectious diseases?Travel abroad does not need to result in an illness from infectious diseases. Taking these measures can help reduce the risk to people traveling internationally:
What are three factors that contribute to emerging infections?These unique environmental conditions will promote emergence of infectious diseases by means of the expansion of vector populations, the occurrence of food shortages, and the contamination of large water sources.
What factors cause infectious diseases?Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by harmful organisms (pathogens) that get into your body from the outside. Pathogens that cause infectious diseases are viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and, rarely, prions. You can get infectious diseases from other people, bug bites and contaminated food, water or soil.
|