J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, provides insight into the emergence of infectious diseases and their impact on animals and humans. He reminds us that our ability to identify new viruses currently outpaces the ability to interpret the relevance of these discoveries.
It is estimated that 60% to 80% of emerging diseases are zoonotic, which emphasizes the importance of veterinarians in the identification, prevention, and control of emerging infectious diseases.
New infectious disease threats can emerge from a variety of sources. While historical information is helpful, it is still a best guess to identify the most threatening potential agents and predict their impact.
Emergence of new pathogens is uncommon but continues to occur. If highly transmissible, new pathogens can have profound effects, as the worldwide population would be immunologically naïve to the emerging pathogen.
Source: Clinician’s Brief, July 2018. Link.
Infectious diseases of current significance may not have been recognized or considered important 5 to 10 years ago, and infectious diseases that will be significant 10 years from now may not be currently recognized or considered important, illustrating the dynamic nature of disease.
Also see: Is the U.S. cattle business at risk for FMD? BEEF, July 25, 2018. Link.
INSIGHTS: This article is a must-read for animal health pros. Missing however, is direct language to veterinary teams about being watchful and willing to risk and report situations which seem out of the ordinary. Too often we condone a “wait and see” or “I don’t see it here” mentality without stopping to identify and work through anomalies. Prevention and early intervention remain the best methods to manage known pathogens.