From this Mercury News article, the world is facing new breed of infectious diseases. SARS, West Nile, Ebola and AIDS are all emerged within the past 30 years. This is no accident. Scientists have pointed this to human activities and the alteration of ecology.

Among the factors are microbial adaptation and change; human susceptibility to infection; climate and weather; changing ecosystems; human demographics and behavior; economic development and land use; international travel and commerce; technology and industry; breakdown of public health measures; poverty and social inequality; war and famine; lack of political will; and bioterrorism.

Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of CDC, said, "The kinds of things we are doing for SARS, we can anticipate we are going to do again and again."

2003.05.13 [health] - comments