The rising emergence of diseases and the rising re-emergence of diseases represents a thorough threat to many countries, lifestyles, and the delicate balance of society.  While technology constantly evolves and leads science in new areas of growth, the emergence of diseases, as well as the re-emergence of past diseases, poses a threat to science and the technology that seeks to eliminate diseases.  Over the last two decades, diseases have stemmed primarily from zoonotic sources- or from animals.  Over 75% of emerging cases come from animal sources, over 60% of the almost 1,500 known pathogens of humans have an animal origin, and over 600 pathogens were documented from domestic animals (Brown, 2004).  Between 1940 and 2004, over 335 infectious diseases were found.  Although the rise of modern technology boosted these numbers, 300 new diseases causes for alarm to humans and animals alike.  Additionally, some of these pathogens were found to be drug-resistant strains of older diseases (Jones et al., 2008).  This not only indicates a danger, but also a pattern in emerging pathogens.  Stronger, more resistant strains represent a larger threat as re-emerging diseases rise in greater and stronger numbers.  Diseases like multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis and malaria, pathogens that have recently been discovered within the human population such as HIV-1 and SARS, and resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains pose a greater threat than other emerging diseases because they are the threat that continues to haunt scientists (Jones et al., 2008).  As emerging diseases threaten human populations, they also create social and cultural issues that resonate long after outbreaks.

Outbreaks of diseases carry patterns within populations with the fluctuations of social and cultural events such as poverty, as well as geographic effects.  Recent analyses have shown that human pathogens are more concurrent around the Equator due to higher temperatures and greater levels of precipitation (Jones et al., 2008).  Additionally, there is a relationship between the rise of poverty and the emergence of pathogens. Access to resources such as water filters, latrines, soap, and health care reduces the emergence of major outbreaks, but many countries do not have access to such resources. 28% of Nicaraguan communities have access to water filters, 45% latrines, and fortunately 97% have access to soap.  65% of households still live on dirt floors and 51% use a well that may be laced with disease-carrying mosquitoes and waste leakage from poor sanitation habits. Cultural features such as perceptions of hygiene, the attitude toward hygiene and clean water, and the awareness and attitude toward parasites plays an important role in the success of using such resources (Karan, Chapman, & Galvani, 2012). Such habits can be difficult to break once ingrained in cultures, which can perpetuate the cycle of pathogens and outbreaks.  If the community is not willing to listen to modern science and change habits, then they will continue to face epidemics that can turn into pandemics with the correct mix of variables. Concurrently, the rise in globalization, the increase in deforestation and reforestation, livestock handling, the increased use of irrigation and dams, and global population growth increase the spread of emerging diseases and make it easier for epidemics to become pandemics (Lindahl, 2015). While social and cultural issues result from and result in the rise of emerging diseases, scientists and the world prepare for the next major outbreak- which begs the question, are we ready?

The first flu pandemic was in 1918 and killed 675,000 Americans and over 50 million worldwide. There have been three more flu pandemics since then, with the most recent in 2009.  New flu vaccines come out almost every year due to the vast amount of strains, which social habits have a large responsibility in, and 114 World Health Organization countries monitor flu activity (CDC, 2017).  This is just one example in the constant war against pathogens.  It offers a false security that needs greater support.  The lack of supplies is a worry that plagues scientists and health officials- poorer countries and states simply do not have the means to purchase great volumes of face masks, hand sanitizer, and water purification devices.  The results of outbreaks such as Ebola signify the need for nations to commit deeper in solving logistical issues that can impact them when they least expect them (Stone, 2019).  Unfortunately, the answer to the question may be that we are ill-prepared for the next major outbreak.  In some cases, humans have responded with a ferocity that has stamped the outbreak quickly, but in other cases we have been slow because of the reasons previously outlined.  Effort in resolving social issues and stigmas, as well as the access to resources for all, may help reduce the impact of the next outbreak, and could break the pattern in rising diseases.

 

 

References

Brown, C.. Emerging zoonoses and pathogens of public health significance- an overview.  Rev. sci. tech. Off. int. Epiz 23 (2), 534-442 (2004).

CDC. Are We Prepared? (2017).

Jones, K., Patel, N., Levy, M. et al. Global trends in emerging infectious diseases. Nature 451, 990–993 (2008).

Karan, A., Chapman, G. B., Galvani, A. The Influence of Poverty and Culture on the Transmission of Parasitic Infections in Rural Nicaraguan Villages. Journal of Parasitology Research, 1-12 (2012).

Lindahl, J. F. & Grace, D.. The consequences of human actions on risks for infectious diseases: a review, Infection Ecology & Epidemiology, 5:1 (2015).

Stone, J.. How Prepared Are We For The Next Pandemic? Not Very, Experts Show. Forbes (2019).