DEN2027 emerging infections 2023 access

Introduction

• Institution: Queen's University, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Belfast

• Presenter: Dr. Selinda Orr

• Topic: Emerging Infectious Diseases

Learning Objectives

• Define emerging and re-emerging infections.

• Discuss general factors involved in these infections.

• Provide examples of emerging pathogens.

• Understand implications for clinical practice in dentistry.

WHO Definition of Emerging Infections

• Emerging Infectious Disease:

  • Appeared for the first time affecting a population.

  • Rapidly increasing in new cases or spreading to new areas

  • infectious Diseases once controlled but re-emerging

• Re-emerging Diseases:

  • Old diseases appearing in new clinical forms, possibly severe or fatal.

  • (e.g., chikungunya).

Factors Involved in Emerging and Re-emerging Infections

• Microbial Transmission:

  • Carrying microorganisms from the mouth to anus.

• Globalization:

  • Increased travel contributes to infection spread.

• Agricultural Practices:

  • Fresh food trade practices may contribute to infections.

• Food Technology:

  • Large-scale production and distribution practices contribute to risks.

• Changing Hygiene Habits:

  • Societal attitudes towards hygiene impact disease spread.

• Daycare Centers:

  • Mass use increases transmission potential in vulnerable populations.

• Public Health:

  • Breakdown in health measures exacerbates risks.

Globalization of Travel and Trade.

• Outbreaks Linked to Air Travel:

  • Air travel has been implicated in the spread of several diseases (HIV, SARS, COVID-19, etc.).\

• Case Study: COVID-19

• Overview:

  • Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

  • Transmission occurs through respiratory droplets from an infected person.

• Incubation:

  • Symptoms generally appear 5–6 days post-infection but can take up to 14 days.

• huge inpact and transmission

• COVID-19 Symptoms and Treatments

• Symptoms:

  • Ranges from mild to severe respiratory illness;

  • at-risk groups include older adults and those with pre-existing conditions. - cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cancer → more likely to develop serious illness

• Vaccines and Treatments:

  • Several licensed vaccines and therapeutics available (e.g., Nirmatrelvir, Remdesivir).

Ebola Virus Disease

• Transmission:

  • Spread from wild animals to humans, thenn human to human by direct contact with bodily fluid, blood

• Fatality Rate:

  • Approximately 50%, AFRICA

• Characteristics:

  • First identified in 1976; outbreaks influenced by rural and urban settings. → causes rapid spread

Symptoms and Treatments of Ebola

• Incubation Period:

  • Ranges from 2-21 days, infectious during symptomatic phase.

• Symptoms:

  • Include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, diarrhea

  • potentially severe complications like internal and extenal bleeding.

• Treatment:

  • 2 monoclonal antibodies and vaccines. (immazeb,ebanga)

Agricultural Practices Overview

Food-borne Diseases

• Statistics:

  • fall ill annually from contaminated food

  • unsafe food

• Common Pathogens:

  • Include Salmonella - egg, poultry

  • , Campylobacter - raw milk,

  • E. coli - unpasteurized milk, undercooked meat

Zoonosis

• Definition:

  • Diseases that originate in animals and can infect humans; 60% of human infectious diseases, 75% of emerging diseases are zoonotic.

• Species Jumping:

  • Organisms can establish human cycles independent of animal reservoirs.

Factors Contributing to Zoonosis Emergence - not important

• Climate Change:

  • Alters habitats and disease vector dynamics.

• Urbanization:

  • High density in cities promotes disease spread.

• Biodiversity Loss:

  • Reduces ecological balances; increases risk of novel pathogen transfer.

• Intensive Livestock Farming:

  • Poor practices lead to disease transmission to humans.

• Pollution:

  • Environmental contamination encourages microbial evolution.

• Bushmeat treading

• Exhaustice agriculture practice

• Deforestation and habitat fragmentation

Zika Virus Disease

• Characteristics:

  • Flavivirus related to Dengue登革熱; transmitted primarily by mosquitoes

  • or mother to fetus, sexual contact, transfusion of blood

  • incubation period - 3 to 14 days .

• Symptoms:

  • Often asymptomatic; can cause flu-like symptoms and serious conditions like Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly.

• Spread:

  • Rapidly propagating in the Americas; no preventive vaccine available.

Legionellosis

lengionella, airborne respiratory pathogen

transmit by inhalation of aerosol of contaminated water droplets

serious in community homes, hospital

treatment exist, but no vaccine

social attitude and measles

fear about false assoiation of mmr and autism → reduce vaccine rate

Conclusion: Challenges in 21st Century Health

• Key Issues:

  • Emerging drug-resistant bacteria, and re-emerging diseases complicate patient care.

infectious disease due to chronic conditions

Pathogen - see ppt

emerging infections and dentisty

education - expain the herd immunity concept

oral related infections (HPV)

impact of oral heath in general heath

asses the infectious impact of dental practices

Dental practice - high risk environment

be aware of emerging infections

be aware of incubation period

be aware of patinet travel history

delay elective treatment if pateint is from affected area in contact until incubation period passed

full protective equipment