MBI 131 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Zoonosis, Index Case, Wiping
22 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Examples of biological agents that pose a threat to human (public) health: wide array of viral and bacterial human pathogens, emerging and zoonotic infections are a particular concern. If a pathogen gains new access to humans an infectious disease may emerge. If a pathogen is able to jump from animals to humans we may develop a disease that hasn"t been seen before. Populations may have little immunity to new pathogens making them very susceptible to infection and spread: important to identify outbreaks of new serious diseases quickly and implement strategies to control them. Originally transmitted from eating a wild animal, perhaps a bat. Zika is spread by mosquitoes, blood transfusions, sexual contact. Nipah is passed from person to person through saliva. Naturally carried by fruit bats and spills over into other animals or people. Ebola virus: reservoir host: likely to be fruit bats, transmission. Index case caused by animal exposure: this can be followed by significant human to human transmission.
