| What are epidemics? |
Epidemics describe localized outbreaks of disease. Epidemics are caused by microbes, minuscule living organisms such as pathogenic virus and bacteria. Because of their fast spreading and contagious nature, immediate medical attention is necessary to halt their lethal advance.
Because of international travel and commerce, certain epidemics may spread to other parts of the world. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), for instance, has recently been recognized as an international threat, spreading to numerous nations in a short period of time. Its grave consequences prove the very importance of international cooperation to exterminate epidemics.
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| Epidemics and medicine: the continuing battle |
Modern technological advances have been instrumental in developing more effective medicines than that of the past. With the advent of highly advanced microscopes and genome sequencing technology, researchers are able to assess viruses accurately and develop efficient medicines. However...
Despite of modern technological and medicinal advances, epidemics continue
to threathen thousands of lives each year. Because microbes often mutate to
adjust to their environment, developing a cure becomes increasingly difficult.
A long period of observation is necessary to obtain accurate information of
viruses.
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