Emerging Infectious Diseases Sourcebook, 2nd Ed

Diseases that have newly emerged within specific population groups or those with an increased rate of incidence in the recent past are considered emerging infectious diseases. Ecological changes, the evolution of microbial pathogens, frequent traveling, and bioterrorism are some of the prime reasons for outbreaks of infectious diseases. Among the most common infectious diseases in the United States are the common cold, coronavirus, HIV, influenza, Lyme disease, measles, pneumonia, staphylococcal infections, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis. Proper public health and vaccination programs can significantly reduce the spread of infectious diseases. However, the resurgence of old communicable diseases, the emergence of new ones, and the evolution of antimicrobial resistance have made treatments less effective and continue to pose challenges.

Emerging infectious diseases remain a major public health concern in the United States and around the world. Emerging Infectious Diseases Sourcebook, Second Edition provides information about various emerging and reemerging infectious diseases and explains how the immune system works against these infections. It describes how climatic changes affect the outbreak and spread of infectious diseases, and offers guidance for international travelers to protect themselves from such diseases. Types of diagnostic tests, available treatment methods, and preventive measures for different kinds of infectious diseases are explained in detail. The book concludes with a glossary of related terms and a directory of additional resources.

This book is divided into parts and chapters. Parts focus on broad areas of interest. Chapters are devoted to single topics within a part.

Part 1: Infectious Diseases: An Overview begins with an introduction to emerging infectious diseases and explains how the diseases get transmitted. It also describes bioterrorism and preparedness in case of health emergencies.

Part 2: Types of Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases provides facts about various diseases and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and so on. The part discusses the mode of transmission, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and preventive measures for specific infectious diseases.

Part 3: Disease Spread due to Climate Change explains how climatic changes influence and affect the environment around us—air, soil, water, and food—resulting in the outbreak and spread of several infectious diseases. It also discusses the health impacts of climatic changes in the United States.

Part 4: International Travel and Infectious Diseases provides guidance for international travelers to stay away from infectious diseases. It deals with aircraft and vessel management systems to prevent the spread of diseases. It also discusses protocols for traveling with pets, importation of animals, animal products, and human remains.

Part 5: Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases outlines the tests and procedures used to identify the presence of infection or infection-causing pathogens. Antibiotics, antivirals, prescription medications, and other over-the-counter (OTC) medicines available for emerging and reemerging diseases are discussed. The growing problem of antimicrobial resistance—the way microbes change to counteract the effectiveness of drug treatments—is also explained.

Part 6: Preventing Infectious Diseases offers information about various effective preventive measures such as handwashing, eye protection and vaccination for halting the spread of disease. It provides vaccine recommendations for children, adolescents, and adults, and also addresses problems associated with vaccines, the vaccine adverse event reporting system, and the difficulties that can arise as a result of vaccine misinformation. It concludes with occupational safety for health care and animal care workers, quarantine and isolation for controlling contagious diseases.

Part 7: Additional Help and Information offers a glossary of important terms and a directory of government agencies and private organizations that provide help and information to patients with infectious diseases.