Emerging infections: a perpetual challenge

Abstract

Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, and their determinants, have recently attracted substantial scientific and popular attention. HIV/AIDS, severe acute respiratory syndrome, H5N1 avian influenza, and many other emerging diseases have either proved fatal or caused international alarm. Common and interactive co-determinants of disease emergence, including population growth, travel, and environmental disruption, have been increasingly documented and studied. Are emerging infections a new phenomenon related to modern life, or do more basic determinants, transcending time, place, and human progress, govern disease generation? By examining a number of historically notable epidemics, we suggest that emerging diseases, similar in their novelty, impact, and elicitation of control responses, have occurred throughout recorded history. Fundamental determinants, typically acting in concert, seem to underlie their emergence, and infections such as these are likely to continue to remain challenges to human survival.

Phytochemical screening and in vitro antimicrobial activity of Thymus lanceolatus Desf. from Algeria

“…Including common infectious diseases, leading causes of morbidity and mortality [3] , which are directly responsible for 26% of annual deaths worldwide [4] , were also treated by those plants preparations since ancient times [5] . In modern medicine, the discovery of bioactive molecules from microbial origin and synthetic antimicrobial agents decreased the use of traditional plant preparations, especially in developed countries.…”

Viral Evolutionary Ecology: Conceptual Basis of a New Scientific Approach for Understanding Viral Emergence

“…There are several lines of evidence on the relationship between natural ecosystems intervention and re/emergence of diseases produced by bacteria, parasites and viruses [32][33][34][35][36][37]. Specifically, for understanding viral emergence it is important to understand the sylvatic cycle of viruses, the transition to human populations, the relationship between vectors, pathogens and reservoirs in wildlife ecosystems, the change in the distribution of vectors and reservoirs after natural habitat fragmentation, and how these conditions are generating potential new roles and ecological niches for species.…”

“…Viruses exist in a high variety of ecosystems, in which numerous elements are implied in their trafficking and disease dynamics [80]. An important group of viruses implied in emergent and re-emergent diseases belong to the families Togaviridae (genus Alphavirus), Flaviviridae (genus Flavivirus) and Bunyaviridae (genera Orthobunyavirus and Phlebovirus) [32,[35][36][37]. These viruses are transmitted by haematophagous arthropods, mainly mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae).…”

“…These viruses are transmitted by haematophagous arthropods, mainly mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). The family Culicidae of insect vectors is often associated with sylvatic areas, historically modified by human activities like artificial landscapes (agriculture, livestock, mining, house building and urbanization) [32,[35][36][37].…”

Determinants and Drivers of Infectious Disease Threat Events in Europe

“…Historically, novel pathogens have emerged and reemerged repeatedly in human populations and affected public health; similarly, pathogens that have been present in a population at low levels have increased rapidly in incidence or geographic range with equally grave consequences (3). The context of infectious disease emergence has changed over the centuries, but Europe has remained and even intensified as a hot spot for emerging infectious diseases over recent decades (4).…”