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Infectious disease outbreaks on the rise
Salmonella
Salmonella tops the zoonoses list of diseases causing the most outbreaks.

Study finds that more than 60 per cent of infectious diseases arise from animals

The number of infectious disease outbreaks and the number of unique illnesses causing them appears to be increasing, a study by Brown University has revealed.

Researchers analysed more than 12,000 outbreaks affecting 44 million people across the world over the last 33 years. The raw numbers revealed a steep rise in the number of outbreaks globally.

Between 1980 and 1985 there were less that 1,000 outbreaks of disease, but for the period of 2005 to 2012, the number rose to almost 3,000. In the same time, the number of unique disease causing the outbreaks surged from less than 140 to about 160.

The analysis also revealed that 65 per cent of diseases in the dataset were "zoonoses," meaning that they come from animals.

Katherine Smith, assistant professor of biology and co-author of the study, said: "We live in a world where human populations are increasingly interconnected with one another and with animals - both wildlife and livestock - that host novel pathogens. These connections create opportunities for pathogens to switch hats, cross borders, and evolve new strains that are stronger the what we have seen in the past."

From the analysis, they researchers compiled top 10 lists for each decade of diseases causing the most outbreaks. For zoonoses in 2000-10, salmonella topped the list, followed by e-coli, influenza A, hepatitis A, anthrax, dengue fever, shigellosis, tuberculosis, chikingunya, and trichinosis.

Katherine said that it is good news that although the world seems to face an increasing number of infectious flare ups, we are improving our public health and medical defences too.

Katherine wrote: "Our data suggests that, despite an increase in overall outbreaks, global improvements in prevention, early detection, control and treatment are becoming more effective at reducing the number of people infected."

The paper, Global rise in human infectious disease outbreaks, is published in The Journal of the Royal Society Interface.

Image (C) National Institutes of Health

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.