The Future Of Emerging Infectious Disease

摘要

New categories of emerging infectious diseases (EID) have been designated. In addition to the characteristically typical emergent diseases exemplified in recent years by Nipah virus infection, SARS, MRSA, and AIDS, "re-emerging" diseases, such as dengue and drug-resistant malaria, are occurring. Such diseases are caused by a variety of well-recognized determinants involving practices that allow these diseases to overcome accepted treatments or control regimens. The third EID category is "deliberately emerging" diseases as in the anthrax attacks of 2001 in the U.S. Fortunately, this third category has not been highly prevalent, but the future potential for terrorists to use biological weapons has become a major global concern.