African countries need vaccines, drugs and preventive care for hepatitis and other viral epidemics. We will partner with international organisations and local healthcare facilities to make these available at little or no cost. No effort to help the poor and needy is wasted.
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Outbreaks and Pandemics: What’s Next?
Here are a few possibilities on which infectious diseases may pose the more serious threats to the world in the future.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV)
Spread across 12 countries, the virus has killed almost 40 percent of the people it infected. And while it may currently be confined to one region of the world, the high level of air travel between the Middle East and the AND THE REST OF THE WORLD increases the chance that it could find its way into any country. “We still don’t have a good handle on how it spreads, and there is no treatment for it or vaccine against it.”
Novel influenza virus
A new flu strain that, like the seasonal flu, is far reaching, but which would have a “far higher mortality rate.” Recent examples of major flu pandemics include the 2009 H1N1 outbreak; recent studies indicate the swine flu may have killed more than 200,000 people. The new H7N9 is also notable because of its high mortality rate.
Accident involving a lethal engineered virus
With scientists experimenting on viruses — enhancing their lethality or ability to spread — the risk grows of an accident releasing an engineered virus into the population.
Tuberculosis
It’s the most common infectious disease in the world and drug-resistant strains are only making the matter worse. “The level of drug resistance is growing and coping with this needs to be a real priority.”
Antibiotic resistance
Not a pathogen, but a reason why pathogens could become even more dangerous. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking steps to combat this growing issue, including new regulations on antimicrobial use in food animals and new restrictions on antibacterial soaps.
Deliberate biological threats
A biological attack, whether from another nation or as a terrorist act, could cause not only severe illness and death, but also communication problems that would hinder the ability of public health departments to respond.
Mosquito-borne illness
Climate change is making this already existing problem even greater—with the regional climate shifts, places that haven’t had to deal with mosquito-based threats are now seeing them swarm in because of the warmer weather. Notable examples include the West Nile Virus and Dengue Fever. “We need to reinvigorate our strategy for mosquito control and the infectious diseases that come with mosquitoes.”
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