Emergent Viruses
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202408538
2008-03-31T22:45:00Z
Sabedon
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/* External links */ added [[Category:Microbiology]]
'''Emergent viruses''' is a concept based on the fact that through certain selection pressures, viruses can adapt and can emerge as a new disease/pathogenic strain with a new attribute facilitating its pathogenicity in a new field not normally associated with that specific virus. This includes viruses that are the cause of a [[disease]] which has notably increased in incidence; this is often a result of a wide variety of causes from both the influence of [[Human|man]] and [[nature]]. Most emergent viruses can be categorized as [[zoonotic]] (an animal disease that can be transmitted to humans), this has the advantage of possibly having several natural reservoirs for the [[disease]].
==Overview==
The most important factor in the development of an emergent disease, to [[humans]], is the ability to pass from animal host to humans. There is little to no occurrence of spontaneous new virus species development, although the possible exception commonly cited is [[Ebola virus]]. Most often the virus, due to selection pressure for an animal version of the strain of disease to [[mutate]] and therefore adapt to the infection of human hosts.
==Emergent Virus Infections Factors==
- Population Movements <br>
- Deforestation<br>
- Irrigation<br>
- Urbanization<br>
- Increased long distance air travel<br>
- Increased long distance air travel for livestock<br>
- Migration<br>
==Examples of Emergent Diseases==
===Poliomyelitis===
Known to have existed for centuries with little [[incidence (epidemiology)|incidence]]. During the 19th century [[poliovirus]] became more prominent in populations across the world. Dense urban populations allowed the disease to propagate via close [[human]] to human contact. In addition to this, technological advances meant that traveling became more common throughout the population essentially leading to increased transmission of the [[virus]]. The situation became worse year upon year with increasing incidence of the [[disease]] worldwide. The issue was not resolved until the introduction of a poliovirus [[vaccine]] brought the situation under control. This example demonstrates how a disease can emerge in a population as a result of human influence. This examples also illustrates how an emergent virus can emerge and disappear by tackling the root cause. Poliovirus has been targeted for [[poliomyelitis eradication|eradication]] by the [[WHO]].
New emergent viruses are continually being discovered. Examples include: [[SARS]] and [[Avian influenza]] [[H5N1]].
==External links==
*[http://www.microbiologybytes.com/virology/emerging.html MicrobiologyBytes: Emerging Viruses]
[[Category:Virology]]
[[Category:Microbiology]]