Patterns and predictability in emerging infections

S S Morse1

  • 1Rockefeller University, New York, N.Y., USA.

Insights

Many new infectious diseases are ancient zoonoses that spread to new populations due to ecological shifts and human actions. Recognizing these patterns suggests global disease surveillance is achievable.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • One Health

Background:

  • Many emerging infectious diseases originate as zoonoses, with sporadic spillover into human populations.
  • Ecological changes and human activities facilitate the transmission of these diseases into new host populations.
  • Historical examples include influenza, Lyme disease, Ebola virus disease, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify patterns in the emergence of zoonotic diseases.
  • To assess the feasibility of global surveillance for emerging infectious illnesses.
  • To understand the drivers behind the increased emergence of zoonotic diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical and contemporary zoonotic disease emergence events.
  • Analysis of ecological and anthropogenic factors associated with disease outbreaks.
  • Pattern identification in disease transmission dynamics across different host populations.

Main Results:

  • Novel infections frequently have a history as zoonoses.
  • Ecological disruptions and human behavior are key drivers of zoonotic disease emergence.
  • Identifiable patterns exist in the emergence of various zoonotic diseases, including influenza, Lyme disease, Ebola, and AIDS.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding historical patterns of zoonotic disease emergence is crucial.
  • Global surveillance for emerging infectious diseases is a feasible and necessary endeavor.
  • Interdisciplinary approaches, including ecological and human health perspectives, are vital for effective disease control.

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