Social and environmental risk factors in the emergence of infectious diseases

Humans versus microbes: why infectious diseases are on the rise

This article from Nature Medicine Supplement looks at the emergence over the past 30 years of new diseases such as HIV and AIDS, Ebola, hepatitis C, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and avian influenza, alongside the resurgence of "old" diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) and cholera. The authors argue that these trends are influenced by multiple social and environmental factors. These include changes in personal behaviour, rural-to-urban migration and the resulting slums and shanty towns, overpopulation, greater long-distance mobility and trade, social upheaval caused by war and conflict, and the ecological effects of widespread forest clearance and climate change. Risks are compounded by political denial and ignorance, particularly with regard to HIV and AIDS, and the misuse of medical technology which has led to the development of drug resistant microbes.

The authors note that TB is already a major opportunistic infection for HIV and AIDS, and that persons with AIDS act as "super-spreaders" of TB. The potential impact of the HIV pandemic on the emergence of other infectious diseases is emphasised. The authors highlight the need for more research into the evolving social dynamics of emerging infectious diseases to enable us to predict and mitigate current and future risks.

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Social and environmental risk factors in the emergence of infectious diseases