Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access

Anthropogenic drivers of emerging viral zoonoses and vector-borne diseases

International Conference and Exhibition on VIROLOGY

5-7 September 2011 Baltimore, USA

Neil M. Vora

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JAA

Abstract :

In recent years, a number of infectious diseases have emerged or re-emerged, including many viruses. Th e majority of these novel pathogens have animal origins (HIV, SARS, infl uenza), and many are vector-borne (Chikungunya fever, Japanese encephalitis). Th e factors that contribute to pathogen emergence are complex and interrelated, but a number of ongoing human activities are at least partially responsible. Th ese include global alterations in biodiversity, habitat odifi cations such as deforestation for purposes including agriculture and practices that place humans in close proximity to animals such as through the wildlife trade or livestock production. Anthropogenic climate change is also anticipated to exert pressures on infectious disease emergence and re-emergence. Th ese drivers will likely accelerate in light of the increasingly dense and mobile global human population. Given the lives lost from these diseases, as well as the economic disruption and civil unrest that may ensue, more investment is needed into emerging infectious disease research, surveillance and control strategies. A crucial step towards developing eff ective interventions is engagement of professionals beyond just human health specialists to include veterinarians and environmental scientists. Many of the emerging infectious disease hotspots are located in low-income countries that lack the resources to adequately prevent and manage outbreaks among human and animal populations; international partnerships that focus on local capacity building must be forged to fi ll in these gaps. Finally, eff ective governance and public sector policy eff orts that refl ect the available evidence are essential for successful management of this threat.

Biography :

Neil M. Vora is a second year resident in Internal Medicine at Columbia University (New York, NY). He received his BA from the University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) in International Relations and Biological Sciences. He completed medical school at the University of California, San Francisco.