Lecture 1: Health and Disease populations

What is the One Health concept and what are its three primary components?

One Health is the integrative approach that recognizes the interconnected health of animals, humans, and the environment. The three primary components are: Animal Health, Human Health, Environmental Health

What social determinants influence One Health outcomes?

Culture, economics, and global context are key social determinants that shape One Health outcomes and responses.

Define "amplification" in the context of disease spillover.

Amplification refers to the rapid multiplication of infectious agents to high levels, which is necessary to increase the likelihood of disease spillover and sustain human transmission.

What is "spillover" in infectious disease ecology?

Spillover is the transmission of an infectious agent from one species (typically animals) to another (typically humans), often requiring prior amplification to establish sustained human-to-human transmission.

What is the relationship between amplification and disease spillover?

Amplification increases the pathogen load in a host population, thereby elevating the risk of spillover into humans and facilitating sustained transmission.

What is the scope of emerging and reemerging diseases?

The scope includes newly identified pathogens, known pathogens increasing in incidence, geographic spread, or evolving antimicrobial resistance, and diseases reappearing after apparent control.

What are the two primary drivers of emerging infectious diseases?

Land use and ecosystem changes, Climate and weather changes

List additional drivers of emerging diseases besides land use and climate.

Population growth, Global food systems, International travel, Global trade, Demographic shifts, Political instability, War, Economic pressures

What is the Epidemiological Triad?

The Epidemiological Triad is a model for understanding disease causation involving the interaction between: Agent (pathogen), Host (organism affected), Environment (external factors influencing disease dynamics)

How does the Epidemiological Triad help explain disease emergence?

It highlights how changes in any one component (agent, host, or environment) can disrupt balance and lead to disease outbreaks or increased transmission risk.