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Questions and Answers
What is one of the main causes of child mortality under age 5 in the developing world?
What is one of the main causes of child mortality under age 5 in the developing world?
Which factor contributes to microbial adaptation in pathogens?
Which factor contributes to microbial adaptation in pathogens?
What is a significant health challenge in low-income areas related to tuberculosis?
What is a significant health challenge in low-income areas related to tuberculosis?
Which of the following conditions can improve public health significantly?
Which of the following conditions can improve public health significantly?
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What does ecological epidemiology primarily study?
What does ecological epidemiology primarily study?
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Which disease is noted for having a high mortality rate among its victims?
Which disease is noted for having a high mortality rate among its victims?
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What has contributed to the geographic spread of diseases with zoonotic vectors?
What has contributed to the geographic spread of diseases with zoonotic vectors?
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What has led to antibiotics becoming less effective against certain diseases?
What has led to antibiotics becoming less effective against certain diseases?
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Which factors contribute to the spread of tropical diseases to new areas?
Which factors contribute to the spread of tropical diseases to new areas?
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What type of diseases are categorized under transmissible spongiform encephalopathies?
What type of diseases are categorized under transmissible spongiform encephalopathies?
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What is ecotoxicology primarily concerned with?
What is ecotoxicology primarily concerned with?
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How do allergens affect the immune system?
How do allergens affect the immune system?
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What is a major consequence of using antibiotics to increase meat yield in farming?
What is a major consequence of using antibiotics to increase meat yield in farming?
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Study Notes
Infectious and Emergent Diseases
- Millions of people die from infectious and emergent diseases.
- Many pathogens infect humans, including viruses, bacteria, protozoans, and parasites.
- Diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, malaria, measles, and tetanus kill about 11 million children under age 5.
- Improvements in nutrition, water, sanitation, and inoculations can prevent most deaths.
Factors Contributing to Disease Emergence
- Microbial adaptation: Genetic drift and shift, like in influenza A.
- Changing human susceptibility: Mass immunocompromising (e.g., HIV/AIDS).
- Climate and weather: Zoonotic diseases (e.g. West Nile) are spreading due to warmer climates.
- Human demographics and trade: Rapid travel enables rapid pathogen spread (e.g., COVID).
- Economic development: Antibiotics increase meat yield, leading to antibiotic resistance.
- Breakdown of public health systems: Examples include situations like those in Zimbabwe.
- Social inequality: Poverty and inequality often correlate with infectious disease spread (e.g. tuberculosis).
Public Health Crises
- War and famine: War and famine create public health crises and disrupt healthcare systems.
- Bioterrorism: Examples such as the 2001 Anthrax attacks.
- Dam and irrigation system construction: Construction can lead to malaria from increased mosquito populations.
Ecological Epidemiology
- Studies the ecology of infectious diseases.
- Investigates interactions between hosts and pathogens, including human and wildlife populations.
- Ebola hemorrhagic fever has a high mortality rate (up to 90% in some cases).
- Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a degenerative neurological disease.
- Other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) include mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
- Tropical diseases (malaria, cholera, yellow fever, dengue fever) spread into new areas owing to changing climates.
Resistance to Drugs, Antibiotics, and Pesticides
- Malaria parasites are resistant to many drugs.
- Mosquitoes are resistant to many insecticides.
- Antibiotic resistance arises from their ineffectiveness against certain diseases (e.g. viruses).
Ecotoxicology
- Studies toxins and their effects on living organisms.
- Toxins damage or kill organisms by reacting with cellular components.
- Allergens cause immune responses.
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Description
Explore the critical issues surrounding infectious and emergent diseases that lead to millions of deaths each year. Understand the various pathogens responsible and the factors contributing to their emergence. Learn about prevention strategies through improvements in public health and socioeconomic conditions.
