Emerging Viral Infections

Flashcards covering key concepts, definitions, and terms from the lecture on emerging viral infections.

Emerging infections

Infections that newly appeared, or that appeared previously but are expanding in incidence and geographic range.

Enzootic infections

Pathogen that is present in an animal community at all times but affects only small numbers of animals.

Epizootic infections

Infections affecting many animals in a region at the same time due to certain environmental conditions.

Zoonosis

Transmission of a virus or infection between animal and human.

Super-spreaders

Individuals who infect large numbers of people during disease outbreaks.

Hantaviruses

Viruses related to human modifications of nature, associated with the emergence of diseases.

Factors influencing viral spread

Human modification of nature, habitat use, air travel, globalization.

Replication steps for viruses

Contact with a host, entry into cells, production of copies, overcoming host response, exiting and transmitting.

Host-switching

The process of a virus adapting to infect a new host species.

Genetic variation in viruses

The importance of genetic diversity in aiding the adaptation of viruses to new hosts.

RNA viruses

Viruses with high mutation rates, error-prone replication, and rapid evolution.

Human-to-human transmission

Transmission of viruses between humans, crucial for the sustainment of infections.

Nipah and Hendra viruses

Examples of viruses that have yet to achieve human-to-human transmission.