scholarly journals Emerging and Neglected Infectious Diseases: Insights, Advances, and Challenges

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Israel Nii-Trebi
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Economic Stability ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Formidable Challenge ◽  
Significant Burden ◽  
Disease Epidemics

Infectious diseases are a significant burden on public health and economic stability of societies all over the world. They have for centuries been among the leading causes of death and disability and presented growing challenges to health security and human progress. The threat posed by infectious diseases is further deepened by the continued emergence of new, unrecognized, and old infectious disease epidemics of global impact. Over the past three and half decades at least 30 new infectious agents affecting humans have emerged, most of which are zoonotic and their origins have been shown to correlate significantly with socioeconomic, environmental, and ecological factors. As these factors continue to increase, putting people in increased contact with the disease causing pathogens, there is concern that infectious diseases may continue to present a formidable challenge. Constant awareness and pursuance of effective strategies for controlling infectious diseases and disease emergence thus remain crucial. This review presents current updates on emerging and neglected infectious diseases and highlights the scope, dynamics, and advances in infectious disease management with particular focus on WHO top priority emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and neglected tropical infectious diseases.

scholarly journals Surveillance of emerging infectious diseases in wild non-human primates in Kenya: Successes and challenges

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercy Y. Akinyi ◽  
Stanislaus Kivai ◽  
Peris Mbuthia ◽  
David Kiragu ◽  
Tim Wango ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
High Degree

Abstract Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) originating from wildlife present a significant threat to global health, security, and economic growth, thus combatting their emergence is a public health priority. Humans and non-human primates (NHPs) exhibit a high degree of overlap in their genetic and physiological similarities, hence making them susceptible to majority of pathogens that can cross the primate species boundaries. However, efforts to understand the potential infectious disease-causing pathogens harbored by wild primate populations has lagged and is yet to be fully explored. Disease surveillance in wildlife to identify probable infectious disease outbreaks has remained a challenge especially in developing countries due to logistical and financial constrains associated with both periodic and longitudinal sample collection. Such loopholes have hampered the preparedness to handle the emerging infectious diseases whenever they arise. In this review we focus on successes, challenges, and proposed solutions for EID surveillance in non-human primate populations in Kenya. We discuss,1) mechanisms of cross species transmission of EIDs, 2) the role of NHPS in EID transmission, 3) results from past NHP pathogen surveillance projects in Kenya and 4) challenges and proposed solutions for NHP-EID surveillance. Finally, we propose that more studies need to include investigations into understanding how cross species transmission occurs in diverse NHP populations and how this impacts one health.

scholarly journals Human factors in emerging infectious diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott B. Halstead
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Emerging Infectious Disease ◽  
Emerging Disease ◽  
Human Behaviour ◽  
Microbial World ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
Methods Of Control

When the underlying causes and mechanisms of emerging infectious disease problems are studied carefully, human behaviour is often involved. Even more often, the only methods of control or prevention available are to change human behaviour. Several major recent emerging disease problems can be cited. It is sometimes emphasized that it is human carelessness, human excesses, human ignorance or human habits of conquest or leisure which contribute directly to the biological niches that microorganisms are all too capable of exploiting. We must look at ourselves as the engines of microbial opportunism. It is not likely that we will ever conquer the microbial world;we must look instead to control the human factors that contribute to emergence.

scholarly journals SARS: Political Pathology of the First Post-Westphalian Pathogen

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Fidler
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
The United States ◽  
First Century ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Security ◽  
The World ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Health Organization

In March 2003, the world discovered, again, that I humanity's battle with infectious diseases continues. The twenty-first century began with infectious diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, being discussed as threats to human rights, economic development, and national security. Bioterrorism in the United States in October 2001 increased concerns about pathogenic microbes. The global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the spring of 2003 kept the global infectious disease challenge at the forefront of world news for weeks. At its May 2003 annual meeting, the World Health organization (WHO) asserted that SARS is “the first severe infectious disease to emerge in the twenty-first century” and “poses a serious threat to global health security, the livelihood of populations, the functioning of health systems, and the stability and growth of economies.”

Modeling Large-Scale Epidemics

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay Basu
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Markov Model ◽  
Simulation Modeling ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Basic Feature ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Disease Epidemics

Previous chapters ignored a critical aspect of modeling some major diseases: the infectious nature of many diseases. For infectious diseases, the risk of getting the disease is related to how many people are infectious at a given time: the more infectious people in the area, the higher the risk of infection among susceptible people. In a typical Markov model, we can’t account for this basic feature of infectious diseases because the risk of moving from one state (healthy) to another state (diseased) is assumed to be constant. In this chapter, the author introduces a simulation modeling framework that has been used for decades to simulate infectious disease epidemics.

scholarly journals Emerging viral infectious disease threat: Why Tanzania is not in a safe zone

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chacha D. Mangu ◽  
Christina K. Manyama ◽  
Henry Msila ◽  
Lwitiho Sudi ◽  
Godlove Chaula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Early Response ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Viral Infectious Disease ◽  
The Government

Emerging diseases are global threat towards human existence. Every country is exposed to potentially emergence of infectious diseases. Several factor such as changes in ecology, climate and human demographics play different roles in a complex mechanism contributing to the occurrence of infectious diseases. Important aspects towards control in case of outbreaks are surveillance, preparedness and early response. Tanzania should therefore take opportunity of the calm situation currently present, to prepare. Except for HIV/AIDS, Tanzania has not experienced a major public health threat. However, the question is, is the country safe from emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases? In this article we try to explore the danger of emerging infectious disease (EID) epidemics in Tanzania and the risks attached if an outbreak is to occur. The aim is to formulate recommendations to the government, responsible authorities and general population of what can be done to improve the level of EID preparedness in the country. In conclusion, it is important to strengthen the capacity of community and healthcare staffs on how to respond to potential infectious disease outbreaks. Community-based surveillance systems should be incorporated into the national systems for early detection of public health events. It is also critical to enhance one health approach to increase cross-sectoral information sharing, surveillance and interventional strategies as regards to preparedness and response to disease outbreaks.

scholarly journals Emerging Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance (EIDAR)

2019 ◽  
Vol 184 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 59-65
Author(s):  
Charlotte Lanteri ◽  
Katrin Mende ◽  
Mark Kortepeter
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Clinical Research ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Military Readiness ◽  
Military Populations

Abstract Introduction The Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program’s (IDCRP) Emerging Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance (EIDAR) Research Area is a Department of Defense (DoD) clinical research capability that is responsive and adaptive to emerging infectious disease (EID) threats to US military readiness. Among active-duty and other Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries, EIDAR research is largely focused on evaluating the incidence, risk factors, and acute- and long-term health effects of military-relevant EIDs, especially those caused by high-consequence pathogens or are responsible for outbreaks among US military populations. The EIDAR efforts also address Force Health Protection concerns associated with antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship practices within the MHS. Methods The EIDAR studies utilize the approach of: (1) Preparing for emergent conditions to systematically collect clinical specimens and data and conduct clinical trials to assist the military with a scientifically appropriate response; and (2) Evaluating burden of emergent military-relevant infectious diseases and assessing risks for exposure and development of post-infectious complications and overall impact on military readiness. Results In response to the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, the IDCRP partnered with the National Institutes of Health in developing a multicenter, randomized safety and efficacy study of investigational therapeutics in Ebola patients. Subsequently, the EIDAR team developed a protocol to serve as a contingency plan (EpICC-EID) to allow clinical research activities to occur during future outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fever and severe acute respiratory infections among MHS patients. The EIDAR portfolio recently expanded to include studies to understand exposure risks and impact on military readiness for a diversity of EIDs, such as seroincidence of non-Lyme disease borreliosis and Coccidioides fungal infections among high-risk military populations. The team also launched a new prospective study in response to the recent Zika epidemic to conduct surveillance for Zika and other related viruses among MHS beneficiaries in Puerto Rico. Another new study will prospectively follow U.S. Marines via an online health assessment survey to assess long-term health effects following the largest DoD Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli outbreak at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot-San Diego. In cooperation with the Trauma-Related Infections Research Area, the EIDAR Research Area is also involved with the Multidrug-Resistant and Virulent Organisms Trauma Infections Initiative, which is a collaborative effort across DoD laboratories to characterize bacterial and fungal isolates infecting combat-related extremity wounds and link lab findings to clinical outcomes. Furthermore, the EIDAR team has developed an Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Collaborative Clinical Research Consortium, comprised of Infectious Disease and Pharmacy specialists. Conclusions The EIDAR Research Area is responsive to military-relevant infectious disease threats that are also frequently global public health concerns. Several new EIDAR efforts are underway that will provide Combatant Command Surgeons, Infectious Diseases Service Chiefs, and other Force Health Protection stakeholders with epidemiological information to mitigate the impact of EIDs and antimicrobial resistance on the health of U.S. military service members and their dependents.

scholarly journals Emerging infectious disease and the challenges of social distancing in human and non-human animals

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1932) ◽  
pp. 20201039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea K. Townsend ◽  
Dana M. Hawley ◽  
Jessica F. Stephenson ◽  
Keelah E. G. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Behavioural Plasticity ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Animals

The ‘social distancing’ that occurred in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in humans provides a powerful illustration of the intimate relationship between infectious disease and social behaviour in animals. Indeed, directly transmitted pathogens have long been considered a major cost of group living in humans and other social animals, as well as a driver of the evolution of group size and social behaviour. As the risk and frequency of emerging infectious diseases rise, the ability of social taxa to respond appropriately to changing infectious disease pressures could mean the difference between persistence and extinction. Here, we examine changes in the social behaviour of humans and wildlife in response to infectious diseases and compare these responses to theoretical expectations. We consider constraints on altering social behaviour in the face of emerging diseases, including the lack of behavioural plasticity, environmental limitations and conflicting pressures from the many benefits of group living. We also explore the ways that social animals can minimize the costs of disease-induced changes to sociality and the unique advantages that humans may have in maintaining the benefits of sociality despite social distancing.

Preventing Zoonotic Emerging Disease Outbreaks: The Need to Complement One Health with Ethical Considerations

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Angela K. Martin ◽  
Salome Dürr
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
One Health ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Human Animal

Abstract Human encroachment on the habitats of wild animals and the dense living conditions of farmed animals increase spill-over risk of emerging infectious diseases from animals to humans (such as COVID-19). In this article, we defend two claims: First, we argue that in order to limit the risk of emerging infectious disease outbreaks in the future, a One Health approach is needed, which focuses on human, animal, and environmental health. Second, we claim that One Health should not solely be grounded in collaborations between veterinary, medical, and environmental scientists, but should also involve more dialogue with animal and environmental ethicists. Such an interdisciplinary approach would result in epidemiology-driven measures that are ethically legitimate.

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