Emerging Infectious Disease - Concepts

Question 1

How many pathogens have been identified since 1980?

Answer 1

More than 87

Question 2

What percent of pathogens are viruses?

Answer 2

13%

Question 3

What percent of new pathogens are viruses?

Answer 3

65%

Question 4

What appears to be the primary driver of new pathogens?

Answer 4

Ecological interactions

Question 5

Why are we finding more viruses now?

Answer 5

It’s easier to find and categorize viruses nowadays versus the past.

Question 6

What is the distribution of newly identified pathogens?

Answer 6

Global distribution

Question 7

What are the reservoirs of newly identified pathogens?

Answer 7

Mainly nonhuman animal reservoirs

Question 8

Three steps in the process of emergence (+ possible fourth step)

Answer 8

Introduction/exposure, infection, transmission/establishment and dissemination. (And epidemic spread.)

Question 9

Factors that increase the probability of introduction

Answer 9

Microbial adaptation and change, human susceptibility to infection, climate and weather, changing ecosystems, human demographics and behavior.

Question 10

Factors in the reemergence of infectious disease

Answer 10

Economic development and land-use, international travel and commerce, technology and industry, breakdown of public health measures, poverty and social inequality, war and famine, lack of political will, intent to harm.

Question 11

To cause disease pathogen must be able to infect humans, meaning that it can…

Answer 11

Interact with human cells and multiply