Re-emerging infectious diseases from the past: Hysteria or real risk?

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 28-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Charlier ◽  
Jean-Michel Claverie ◽  
Philippe Sansonetti ◽  
Yves Coppens ◽  
Anaïs Augias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
The Past ◽  
Real Risk

scholarly journals Environmental and social influences on emerging infectious diseases: past, present and future

2004 ◽  
Vol 359 (1447) ◽  
pp. 1049-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. McMichael
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Human Ecology ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Clinical Medicine ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Human Action ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Major Transitions ◽  
The Past

During the processes of human population dispersal around the world over the past 50 000–100 000 years, along with associated cultural evolution and inter–population contact and conflict, there have been several major transitions in the relationships of Homo sapiens with the natural world, animate and inanimate. Each of these transitions has resulted in the emergence of new or unfamiliar infectious diseases. The three great historical transitions since the initial advent of agriculture and livestock herding, from ca . 10 000 years ago, occurred when: (i) early agrarian–based settlements enabled sylvatic enzootic microbes to make contact with Homo sapiens ; (ii) early Eurasian civilizations (such as the Greek and Roman empires, China and south Asia) came into military and commercial contact, ca . 3000–2000 years ago, swapping their dominant infections; and (iii) European expansionism, over the past five centuries, caused the transoceanic spread of often lethal infectious diseases. This latter transition is best known in relation to the conquest of the Americas by Spanish conquistadores , when the inadvertent spread of measles, smallpox and influenza devastated the Amerindian populations. Today, we are living through the fourth of these great transitional periods. The contemporary spread and increased lability of various infectious diseases, new and old, reflect the combined and increasingly widespread impacts of demographic, environmental, behavioural, technological and other rapid changes in human ecology. Modern clinical medicine has, via blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and the use of hypodermic syringes, created new opportunities for microbes. These have contributed to the rising iatrogenic problems of hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS and several other viral infections. Meanwhile, the injudicious use of antibiotics has been a rare instance of human action actually increasing ‘biodiversity’. Another aspect of this fourth transition is that modern hyper–hygienic living restricts microbial exposure in early life. This, in the 1950s, may have contributed to an epidemic of more serious, disabling, poliomyelitis, affecting older children than those affected in earlier, more endemic decades. As with previous human–microbe transitions, a new equilibrial state may lie ahead. However, it certainly will not entail a world free of infectious diseases. Any mature, sustainable, human ecology must come to terms with both the need for, and the needs of, the microbial species that help to make up the interdependent system of life on Earth. Humans and microbes are not ‘at war’; rather, both parties are engaged in amoral, self–interested, coevolutionary struggle. We need to understand better, and therefore anticipate, the dynamics of that process.

scholarly journals Scientometric trends for coronaviruses and other emerging viral infections

GigaScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dima Kagan ◽  
Jacob Moran-Gilad ◽  
Michael Fire
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Full Understanding ◽  
The Past ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Very High

Abstract Background COVID-19 is the most rapidly expanding coronavirus outbreak in the past 2 decades. To provide a swift response to a novel outbreak, prior knowledge from similar outbreaks is essential. Results Here, we study the volume of research conducted on previous coronavirus outbreaks, specifically SARS and MERS, relative to other infectious diseases by analyzing >35 million articles from the past 20 years. Our results demonstrate that previous coronavirus outbreaks have been understudied compared with other viruses. We also show that the research volume of emerging infectious diseases is very high after an outbreak and decreases drastically upon the containment of the disease. This can yield inadequate research and limited investment in gaining a full understanding of novel coronavirus management and prevention. Conclusions Independent of the outcome of the current COVID-19 outbreak, we believe that measures should be taken to encourage sustained research in the field.

scholarly journals Broad-Spectrum Coronavirus Fusion Inhibitors to Combat COVID-19 and Other Emerging Coronavirus Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinling Wang ◽  
Shuai Xia ◽  
Qian Wang ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
Weihua Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Lag Time ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
The Past ◽  
Fusion Inhibitors ◽  
Clinical Drugs

In the past 17 years, three novel coronaviruses have caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As emerging infectious diseases, they were characterized by their novel pathogens and transmissibility without available clinical drugs or vaccines. This is especially true for the newly identified COVID-19 caused by SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for which, to date, no specific antiviral drugs or vaccines have been approved. Similar to SARS and MERS, the lag time in the development of therapeutics is likely to take months to years. These facts call for the development of broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus drugs targeting a conserved target site. This review will systematically describe potential broad-spectrum coronavirus fusion inhibitors, including antibodies, protease inhibitors, and peptide fusion inhibitors, along with a discussion of their advantages and disadvantages.

scholarly journals Scientometric Trends for Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Viral Infections

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dima Kagan ◽  
Jacob Moran-Gilad ◽  
Michael Fire
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Full Understanding ◽  
The Past ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Very High

AbstractCOVID-19 is the most rapidly expanding coronavirus outbreak in the past two decades. To provide a swift response to a novel outbreak, prior knowledge from similar outbreaks is essential. Here, we study the volume of research conducted on previous coronavirus outbreaks, specifically SARS and MERS, relative to other infectious diseases by analyzing over 35 million papers from the last 20 years. Our results demonstrate that previous coronavirus outbreaks have been understudied compared to other viruses. We also show that the research volume of emerging infectious diseases is very high after an outbreak and drops drastically upon the containment of the disease. This can yield inadequate research and limited investment in gaining a full understanding of novel coronavirus management and prevention. Independent of the outcome of the current COVID-19 outbreak, we believe that measures should be taken to encourage sustained research in the field.

scholarly journals Emerging Infectious Diseases in 2012: 20 Years after the Institute of Medicine Report

mBio ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Morens ◽  
Anthony S. Fauci
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
The United States ◽  
Institute Of Medicine ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Microbial Detection ◽  
The Past ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Looking Back

ABSTRACT Twenty years ago (1992), a landmark Institute of Medicine report entitled “Emerging Infections: Microbial Threats to Health in the United States” underscored the important but often underappreciated concept of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). A review of the progress made and setbacks experienced over the past 2 decades suggests that even though many new diseases have emerged, such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and the 2009 pandemic influenza, significant advances have occurred in EID control, prevention, and treatment. Among many elements of the increase in the capacity to control EIDs are genomics-associated advances in microbial detection and treatment, improved disease surveillance, and greater awareness of EIDs and the complicated variables that underlie emergence. In looking back over the past 20 years, it is apparent that we are in a time of great change in which both the challenge of EIDs and our responses to them are being transformed. Recent advances support guarded optimism that further breakthroughs lie ahead.

Evolution, Ayurveda, immunity, and preventive aspects for emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 86-93
Author(s):  
Dhirajsingh Sumersingh Rajput
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Physiological Mechanism ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Breathing Exercise ◽  
Theory Of Evolution ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Living Being

Evolution is continuous process of changes in structural and physiological mechanism in living being. Microbes/pathogens can evolve naturally or artificially and become resistant to various medicines. Novel coronavirus is such evolved pathogen of coronavirus group. Enough strong immunity is needed to prevent or survive from COVID-19 pandemic. Ayurveda provides ways for evolving physiological responses to built immunity. Present work is brief attempt to increase insight in this filed.Present review was done based on simple theory of evolution, recent updates regarding prevention of COVID-19, Ayurveda aspect toward infectious diseases and Ayurveda ways towards prevention of infectious diseases with special reference to COVID-19. Person with impaired immunity is more susceptible for COVID-19 and thus immunity is an important preventing factor. Ayurveda Rasayana (rejuvanation) herbs, Yoga exercises, Pranayama (special breathing exercise), daily regimens and personal hygiene guidelines can be helpful strategies in controlling the spread of COVID-19.The preventive aspects of pandemic situations are narrated in Ayurveda with enough details. These ways need to be scientifically explored and refined for precision. As prevention is always better than cure hence Ayurveda ways can be considered for future strategies to avoid pandemics such as COVID-19.  There is great need of research on Ayurveda medicines on COVID-19 like diseases.

Awareness of symptomatic differences Covid-19, SARS, Swine Flu, Common cold among dental students

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1026-1033
Author(s):  
Nivedha Valliammai Mahalingam ◽  
Abilasha R ◽  
Kavitha S
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Common Cold ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Swine Flu ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Enormous successes have been obtained against the control of major epidemic diseases, such as SARS, MERS, Ebola, Swine Flu in the past. Dynamic interplay of biological, socio-cultural and ecological factors, together with novel aspects of human-animal interphase, pose additional challenges with respect to the emergence of infectious diseases. The important challenges faced in the control and prevention of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases range from understanding the impact of factors that are necessary for the emergence, to development of strengthened surveillance systems that can mitigate human suffering and death. The aim of the current study is to assess the awareness of symptomatic differences between viral diseases like COVID-19, SARS, Swine flu and common cold among dental students that support the prevention of emergence or re-emergence. Cross-sectional type of study conducted among the undergraduate students comprising 100 Subjects. A questionnaire comprising 15 questions in total were framed, and responses were collected in Google forms in SPSS Software statistical analysis. The study has concluded that dental students have an awareness of the symptomatic differences between infectious viral disease. The study concluded that the awareness of symptomatic differences between viral diseases like COVID-19, SARS, Swine flu, Common cold is good among the dental students who would pave the way for early diagnosis and avoid spreading of such diseases. A further awareness can be created by regular webinars, seminars and brainstorming sessions among these healthcare professionals.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document