Emerging infection

Chapter: 9a
Any infectious disease which has come to medical attention within the last two decades. Many times, such diseases exist in nature as a zoonosis, and only emerge as human pathogens when humans come in contact with a formally isolated animal population, such as monkeys in a rain forest due to deforestation. Drug-resistant organisms could also be included as emerging infections, since they exist because of human influence. Some recent examples of emerging infections include human immunodeficiency virus, Ebola virus, and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.

References

  1. Emerging Infections: A prevention strategy for the United States.
  2. Ebola fever.

See Also: