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news.Emerging infectious diseases that pass from animals to humans pose a global threat to human health, and the problem is likely to worsen, an expert has warned in an article in the British Medical Journal.
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The recent emergence of diseases, such as AIDS, SARS and avian flu, have brought emerging infectious diseases to the top of the medical and political agendas, and have highlighted the importance of wildlife as reservoirs or vectors for disease, writes Dr Andrew Cunningham.
Of pathogens causing emerging infectious diseases, 75% are zoonotic (able to transmit from animals to humans), with wildlife being an increasingly important source.
Mr Cunningham explains that one of the major drivers is closer human contact with wildlife, primarily caused by human encroachment into, and modification of, wildlife habitat. For example, Ebola virus outbreaks often are linked to hunting for ‘bushmeat’ or to mining development, and the AIDS pandemic originated from human encroachment into African forests for food.
The rise in international trade and travel is also important. The emergence of West Nile virus in North America, and AIDS and SARS globally, for example, arose from such travel and trade.
This globalization of people and products is difficult to control and is largely related to increasing air transportation. With world air travel expected to grow at about 5% a year for at least the next 20 years, the problem of emerging infectious diseases will continue to grow, Mr Cunningham warns.