Introduction

In the last century, there had been advances in medicine.This had led to many diseases being controlled and even smallpox being eradicated from the face of the Earth. However, new diseases were discovered and vanquished ones are returning.These are called emerging and re-emerging diseases.

Emerging Diseases

Emerging diseases are diseases that have newly appeared in a population or have existed but are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range.They include AIDS,Ebola which are featured in this website and others like:Lassa, Lyme disease,Lassa,Marburg and many more. Some of these diseases are new and hence our body posses no natural defense against them. There are many reasons why such diseases emerge.Firstly, the clearing of forests to build roads and houses.This brought Man into contact with viruses he did not previously encounter.Through this way, Man has met many new microbes like the deadly Ebola,Marburg and others.The change of human sexual behaviour also encourages the spread of AIDs and new hepatitis viruses.Dam building has also increased the chances of getting schistosomiasis, a disease transmitted by water snails.

AIDS and Ebola are new emerging diseases caused by viruses(above)

Re-emerging Diseases

Re-emerging disease are age-old diseases that have increased its prevalence again.These diseases include:tuberculosis,cholera,malaria,etc. These diseases were previously treatable but have developed resistance to the drugs used to treat them.The increased in migaration due to war and international travel has also facilitated the spread of disease.Cholera, for example has increased due to increase in shipping.Malaria, has also increased due to the resistance developed to the drugs used to kill the parasites and its mosquito-borne vector.

Tuberculosis, cholera and malaria germs which are re-emerging microbes

Conclusion

The increase in emerging and re-emerging diseases can be attributed to humans.Humans have enroached on ecological niches by destroying rainforests,hence exposing them to previously unknown diseases.Humans have also misused drugs like antibiotics, enabling microbes to develop resistance, rendering the drugs useless.To stop these diseases, the only way is to stop ecological destruction and the proper use of drugs.Knowledge of the factors underlying disease emergence can help focus resources on the key situations and areas worldwide and develop more effective prevention strategies.Also, to protect ourselves against emerging diseases, the essential first step is effective global disease surveillance to give early warning of emerging infections. Increased research will also find new drugs to treat diseases and uncover more about the diseases.But, whether mankind will succeed against the microbes,only time will tell.