scholarly journals Plant Based Diet- A Therapeutic Riposte to Emerging Zoonotic Infections

Author(s):  
Praveen Jodalli ◽  
Amitha Basheer ◽  
Aradhana Nagarsekar ◽  
Ridhima Gaunkar ◽  
KM Ramya

Emerging zoonotic infectious diseases like swine influenza, avian influenza and Ebola have caused massive human suffering, social upheaval and economic damage across countries and continents. There is increasing evidence that humanity’s overexploitation of nature is one of the major factors responsible for the spread. Recently, mankind is traversing a hard-pandemic time due to COVID-19 outbreak which appears to be a brutal killer. When humans infringe wild adobes for food production, it generates opportunities for infectious pathogens to leap to livestock and humans. It is the time to begin brooding about more radical measures to handle the root of this crisis. A resilient food system that puts less stress on the environment would reduce the outbreak of Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) by reducing contact between humans and wild animals thereby restoring biodiversity. World Health Organisation (WHO) advises avoidance/judicious use of animal meat consumption during or after every outbreak. It is clearly evident that a balanced, healthy plant-based diet can help to control pandemics/epidemics not only by preventing the transmission but also by strengthening the immune system of individuals to combat the infection. This paper throws light on how the human diet is directly or indirectly linked to the emergence, spread and prognosis of various infectious diseases.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria J Brookes ◽  
Okta Wismandanu ◽  
Etih Sudarnika ◽  
Justin A Roby ◽  
Lynne Hayes ◽  
...  

Wet markets are important for food security in many regions worldwide but have come under scrutiny due to their potential role in the emergence of infectious diseases. The sale of live wildlife has been highlighted as a particular risk, and the World Health Organisation has called for the banning of live, wild-caught mammalian species in markets unless risk assessment and effective regulations are in place. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a global scoping review of peer-reviewed information about the sale of live, terrestrial wildlife in markets that are likely to sell fresh food, and collated data about the characteristics of such markets, activities involving live wildlife, the species sold, their purpose, and animal, human, and environmental health risks that were identified. Of the 59 peer-reviewed records within scope, only 25% (n = 14) focussed on disease risks; the rest focused on the impact of wildlife sale on conservation. Although there were some global patterns (for example, the types of markets and purpose of sale of wildlife), there was wide diversity and huge epistemic uncertainty in all aspects associated with live, terrestrial wildlife sale in markets such that the feasibility of accurate assessment of the risk of emerging infectious disease associated with live wildlife trade in markets is limited. Given the value of both wet markets and wildlife trade and the need to support food affordability and accessibility, conservation, public health, and the social and economic aspects of livelihoods of often vulnerable people, there are major information gaps that need to be addressed to develop evidence-based policy in this environment. This review identifies these gaps and provides a foundation from which information for risk assessments can be collected.


Author(s):  
Toni Wandra

World Health Organization (WHO) defines zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) as those diseases and infections which are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans. More than 250 zoonoses have been described, over 60% of pathogens that cause diseases in humans are zoonoses of animals, and 75% of emerging infectious diseases. Most pandemics are caused by zoonoses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (02) ◽  
pp. 6186-2019
Author(s):  
ZYGMUNT PEJSAK ◽  
MARIAN TRUSZCZYŃSKI ◽  
KAZIMIERZ TARASIUKL

In the introduction of this paper the increasingly accepted nomenclature of basic expressions used in veterinary epidemiology is presented. This is in accordance with the 2018 Edition of Wiley-Blackwell Veterinary Epidemiology, by Michael Thrusfield. Pandemia and not Panzootia is used for large scale outbreaks of infectious diseases also in relation to animals characterizing significantly increased morbidity and mortatlity over a wide geographic area, including countries, continents or even the whole globe and causing significant economic, social and even political disruption. It is underlined that the pandemics of infectious diseases of animals will continue to increase because of the growing transboundary trade and transportation of animals and animal products and increasing international contacts of humans. In the control of pandemics of humans, particularly, for example of influenza of the years 1918-1919, and also in 1968, but also pandemics of other ethiology occurring in humans the World Health Organisation (WHO) took the leading position. In case of avian and swine influenza as well as in pandemics occurring in animals, the leading position in prevention, control and eradication belongs to World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The main part of this paper is devoted to the characterization of the pandemic of African Swine Fever (ASF) which started in 2007 in Georgia, transmitted from Africa. Countries, where ASF virus (ASFV) was confirmed by laboratory tests are mentioned in the text of this paper. They are located in Eurasia. Among them are countries, being members of the European Union (EU). The routs of spreading of the ASFV in wild boar and swine are given, the methods of ASF control in EU were presented. The main vector of the ASF spread in EU, is the wild boar and the humans. Future distribution of the pandemia spread of ASFV is difficult to predict. Veterinary services of many countries, practitioners and scientists are working intensively to understand epidemiology of ASF and to stop the spread of ASFV.


Author(s):  
Meghit Boumediene Khaled ◽  
Nada Benajiba

The immune system is involved in the protection of host against environmental agents such as pathogenic micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) and chemicals, thereby preserving the integrity of the body. To preserve organism defense mechanisms, adequate nutritional status should be maintained with appropriate intakes of calories, vitamins, minerals and water that should be continuously provided by a healthy diet. The emergence of new infectious diseases with new pathogenic properties constitutes a serious health issue worldwide. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) represents one of the most recent emerging infectious diseases, caused by a novel coronavirus member called (SARS-CoV-2), identified in Wuhan, Hubei, China in December 2019, and recognized as pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The nutritional status of each COVID-19-infected patient should be assessed prior undertaking treatments. Nutritional support should be the basis of management of any infected individual. However, prevention measures remain the first priority and strategy to develop throughout proper hygiene, healthy diet and staying home. Keywords: Nutrition, Immune system, Viral diseases, SARS-CoV-2.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshifumi Takeda ◽  

The global threat of new infectious diseases first became widely recognized in the 1990s. The US government published a report on emerging and reemerging infectious diseases followed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which adopted the slogan "Emerging Infectious Diseases: Global Alert, Global Response" in 1997. Typical examples of the more than 30 infectious diseases emerging since 1970s are HIV/AIDS, Vibrio cholerae O139 infection, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and avian influenza. The New Infectious Diseases Control Law enacted in Japan in 1999 was to control these emerging infectious diseases and the already existing ones.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshie Manabe ◽  
Dung Phan ◽  
Yasuhiro Nohara ◽  
Dan Kambayashi ◽  
Thang Huu Nguyen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of emerging infectious diseases is crucial for implementation of control measures. In the first 7 months from the occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has documented comparatively few cases of COVID-19. Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of these cases may contribute to development of global countermeasures. Methods We assessed the spatiotemporal distribution of COVID-19 from 23 January to 31 July 2020 in Vietnam. Data were collected from reports of the World Health Organization, the Vietnam Ministry of Health, and related websites. Temporal distribution was assessed via the transmission classification (local or quarantined cases). Geographical distribution was assessed via the number of cases in each province along with their timelines. The most likely disease clusters with elevated incidence were assessed via calculation of the relative risk (RR). Results Among 544 observed cases of COVID-19, the median age was 35 years, 54.8% were men, and 50.9% were diagnosed during quarantine. During the observation period, there were four phases: Phase 1, COVID-19 cases occurred sporadically in January and February 2020; Phase 2, an epidemic wave occurred from the 1st week of March to the middle of April (Wave 1); Phase 3, only quarantining cases were involved; and Phase 4, a second epidemic wave began on July 25th, 2020 (Wave 2). A spatial cluster in Phase 1 was detected in Vinh Phuc Province (RR, 38.052). In Phase 2, primary spatial clusters were identified in the areas of Hanoi and Ha Nam Province (RR, 6.357). In Phase 4, a spatial cluster was detected in Da Nang, a popular coastal tourist destination (RR, 70.401). Conclusions Spatial disease clustering of COVID-19 in Vietnam was associated with large cities, tourist destinations, people’s mobility, and the occurrence of nosocomial infections. Past experiences with outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases led to quick implementation of governmental countermeasures against COVID-19 and a general acceptance of these measures by the population. The behaviors of the population and the government, as well as the country’s age distribution, may have contributed to the low incidence and small number of severe COVID-19 cases.


2016 ◽  
Vol Volume 112 (Number 3/4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastassios Pouris ◽  
Yuh-Shan Ho ◽  
◽  

Abstract An unprecedented outbreak of the Ebola virus in 2014 claimed more than 1000 lives in West Africa and the World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency. This outbreak will undoubtedly promote additional research related to the Ebola virus and will create debate related to experimental drugs. This article identified the quantum of research in the field since 1991; the scientific disciplines that contributed to the field; the countries, organisations and authors that supported such research and the most cited articles. An increasing trend in annual production during 1991–2013 was observed. Journal of Virology, Journal of Infectious Diseases, and Virology were the three most productive journals in the field. Similarly, the field of virology dominated the 73 categories in which the Ebola research was classified. A total of 63 countries contributed to Ebola-related research, led by the USA. The most productive institutions were the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. African countries were more likely to be involved in international collaboration than independent research. The most influential article exhibited a notable citation pattern and presented global trends in emerging infectious diseases.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (16) ◽  
pp. 4055-4059 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Bloom ◽  
Steven Black ◽  
Rino Rappuoli

Infectious diseases are now emerging or reemerging almost every year. This trend will continue because a number of factors, including the increased global population, aging, travel, urbanization, and climate change, favor the emergence, evolution, and spread of new pathogens. The approach used so far for emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) does not work from the technical point of view, and it is not sustainable. However, the advent of platform technologies offers vaccine manufacturers an opportunity to develop new vaccines faster and to reduce the investment to build manufacturing facilities, in addition to allowing for the possible streamlining of regulatory processes. The new technologies also make possible the rapid development of human monoclonal antibodies that could become a potent immediate response to an emergency. So far, several proposals to approach EIDs have been made independently by scientists, the private sector, national governments, and international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO). While each of them has merit, there is a need for a global governance that is capable of taking a strong leadership role and making it attractive to all partners to come to the same table and to coordinate the global approach.


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