BIo Epidemics

Q: What is an endemic?

 A: A disease that is always present in a particular area.

Q: What is an epidemic?

A: A sudden outbreak of a disease affecting many individuals at the same time.

Q: What is a pandemic?

A: A global epidemic spreading across continents.

Q: List human behaviors that increase risk of epidemics.

A: Exploration, globalisation, warfare, famine, poverty/overcrowding, poor sanitation, deforestation, wildlife contact.

Q: Why do outbreaks often emerge after environmental changes?

A: They allow infectious agents to expand beyond their original ecological niche.

Q: What percentage of human infections originate from animals?

60

Q: What percentage of new/emerging infections are zoonotic?

A: ~75%.

Q: Main routes of zoonotic spillover?

A: Wildlife farming, hunting, wet markets, exotic pets, domesticated animal contact.

List major routes of pathogen emergence.

• Spillover from animals
  
  

• Reappearing diseases (plague)
  
  

• Spread to naïve populations (Zika)
  
  

• Mutation/adaptation (influenza)
  
  

After natural disasters (cholera)

What bacterium causes plague & how is it transmitted?

A: Yersinia pestis; fleas on rodents.

Q: What bacterium causes cholera & how is it transmitted?

A: Vibrio cholerae; contaminated water/food.