Emerging infectious diseases likely to increase

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

The problem of new infectious diseases is set to get worse, with both humans and animals being infected.
The last two decades has seen the emergence of AIDS, SARS and, now, avian flu as well as other new infectious illnesses. Expert Dr Andrew Cunningham of the Zoological Society of London, points out that this trend highlights how wildlife can act as a reservoir for new and frightening diseases.

Of the microbes causing these emerging infections, three quarters are found to be zoonotic - that is, they can be transmitted from animals to humans. The diseases are probably on the increase because of closer contact between humans and wildlife. The rise of international trade and travel is also an important factor in spreading diseases like SARS and AIDS. Such trends are impossible to reverse, so we have to learn to live with new infections and search for ways of dealing with them.

Source
British Medical Journal 26th November 2005 Volume 331 pages 1214-1215