Neurologic manifestations associated with COVID-19: a multicentre registry.

OBJECTIVES: To provide an overview of the spectrum, characteristics and outcomes of neurologic manifestations associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre retrospective study during the French coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in March-April 2020. All COVID-19 patients with de novo neurologic manifestations were eligible. RESULTS: We included 222 COVID-19 patients with neurologic manifestations from 46 centres in France. Median (interquartile range, IQR) age was 65 (53-72) years and 136 patients (61.3%) were male. COVID-19 was severe or critical in 102 patients (45.2%). The most common neurologic diseases were COVID-19-associated encephalopathy (67/222, 30.2%), acute ischaemic cerebrovascular syndrome (57/222, 25.7%), encephalitis (21/222, 9.5%) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (15/222, 6.8%). Neurologic manifestations appeared after the first COVID-19 symptoms with a median (IQR) delay of 6 (3-8) days in COVID-19-associated encephalopathy, 7 (5-10) days in encephalitis, 12 (7-18) days in acute ischaemic cerebrovascular syndrome and 18 (15-28) days in Guillain-Barré syndrome. Brain imaging was performed in 192 patients (86.5%), including 157 magnetic resonance imaging (70.7%). Among patients with acute ischaemic cerebrovascular syndrome, 13 (22.8%) of 57 had multiterritory ischaemic strokes, with large vessel thrombosis in 16 (28.1%) of 57. Brain magnetic resonance imaging of encephalitis patients showed heterogeneous acute nonvascular lesions in 14 (66.7%) of 21. Cerebrospinal fluid of 97 patients (43.7%) was analysed, with pleocytosis found in 18 patients (18.6%) and a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR result in two patients with encephalitis. The median (IQR) follow-up was 24 (17-34) days with a high short-term mortality rate (28/222, 12.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical spectrum and outcomes of neurologic manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection were broad and heterogeneous, suggesting different underlying pathogenic processes.

The Impact of COVID-19 on People Living with HIV-1 and HIV-1-Associated Neurological Complications.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative pathogen of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a fatal respiratory illness. The associated risk factors for COVID-19 are old age and medical comorbidities. In the current combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) era, a significant portion of people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) with controlled viremia is older and with comorbidities, making these people vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-associated severe outcomes. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 is neurotropic and causes neurological complications, resulting in a health burden and an adverse impact on PLWH and exacerbating HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity on neuroinflammation, the development of HAND and preexisting HAND is poorly explored. In the present review, we compiled the current knowledge of differences and similarities between SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1, the conditions of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 and HIV-1/AIDS syndemic and their impact on the central nervous system (CNS). Risk factors of COVID-19 on PLWH and neurological manifestations, inflammatory mechanisms leading to the neurological syndrome, the development of HAND, and its influence on preexisting HAND are also discussed. Finally, we have reviewed the challenges of the present syndemic on the world population, with a particular emphasis on PLWH.

Impact of new-onset and preexisting neurological disorders in COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is still considered a global pandemic. The prognosis of COVID-19 patients varies greatly. We aimed to assess the impact of preexisting, chronic neurological diseases (CNDs) and new-onset acute neurological complications (ANCs) on the disease course, its complications, and outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a monocentric retrospective analysis from all hospitalized COVID-19 patients between May 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021. Employing multivariable logistic regression models, we explored the association of CNDs and ANCs separately with hospital mortality and functional outcome. RESULTS: A total of 250 among 709 patients with COVID-19 had CNDs. We found a 2.0 times higher chance of death (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37-2.92) for CND patients than for non-CND patients. The chance for an unfavorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale > 3 at discharge) was 1.67 times higher in patients with CNDs than those without (95% CI: 1.07-2.59). Furthermore, 117 of all patients had 135 ANCs in total. We observed a 1.86 times higher chance to die (95% CI: 1.18-2.93) for patients with ANCs than without. The chance for a worse functional outcome was 3.6-fold higher in ANC patients than without (95% CI: 2.22-6.01). Patients with CNDs had 1.73 times higher odds for developing ANCs (95% CI: 0.97-3.08). CONCLUSION: Preexisting neurologic disorders or ANCs in COVID-19 patients were associated with higher mortality and poorer functional outcome at discharge. Furthermore, development of acute neurologic complications was more frequent in patients with preexisting neurologic disease. Early neurological evaluation appears to be an important prognostic factor in COVID-19 patients.

Coronavirus 2019: clinical and neuropathological aspects.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To understand the role of postinfectious autoimmune vascular inflammation in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019-related neurological illness caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus and its effects on the brain in children and adults. RECENT FINDINGS: There are a very small number of postmortem neuropathological series of coronavirus disease 2019-related cerebrovascular and parenchymal disease. However, they fall into at least three major categories, with the majority manifesting those of terminal hypoxia, and others demonstrating inflammatory vascular leptomeningeal, cerebral and brainstem interstitial changes suspicious for encephalitis in a minority of cases. It remains uncertain whether these histopathological features have a relationship to post-infectious inflammatory immune mechanisms and microscopic vasculitis in adults as it appears to be in affected children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome. SUMMARY: The reasons for this dichotomy are unclear but may related to inherent and epigenetic factors that remain poorly understood. Treatment addressing postinfectious mechanisms of pulmonary, systemic, and nervous system injury may avert early mortality.

Uncovering a neurological protein signature for severe COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has sparked a global pandemic with severe complications and high morbidity rate. Neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients, and neurological sequelae post COVID-19 recovery have been extensively reported. Yet, neurological molecular signature and signaling pathways that are affected in the central nervous system (CNS) of COVID-19 severe patients remain still unknown and need to be identified. Plasma samples from 49 severe COVID-19 patients, 50 mild COVID-19 patients, and 40 healthy controls were subjected to Olink proteomics analysis of 184 CNS-enriched proteins. By using a multi-approach bioinformatics analysis, we identified a 34-neurological protein signature for COVID-19 severity and unveiled dysregulated neurological pathways in severe cases. Here, we identified a new neurological protein signature for severe COVID-19 that was validated in different independent cohorts using blood and postmortem brain samples and shown to correlate with neurological diseases and pharmacological drugs. This protein signature could potentially aid the development of prognostic and diagnostic tools for neurological complications in post-COVID-19 convalescent patients with long term neurological sequelae.

Neurorecovery after Critical COVID-19 Illness.

With the hundreds of millions of people worldwide who have been, and continue to be, affected by pandemic coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its chronic sequelae, strategies to improve recovery and rehabilitation from COVID-19 are critical global public health priorities. Neurologic complications have been associated with acute COVID-19 infection, usually in the setting of critical COVID-19 illness. Neurologic complications are also a core feature of the symptom constellation of long COVID and portend poor outcomes. In this article, we review neurologic complications and their mechanisms in critical COVID-19 illness and long COVID. We focus on parallels with neurologic disease associated with non-COVID critical systemic illness. We conclude with a discussion of how recent findings can guide both neurologists working in post-acute neurologic rehabilitation facilities and policy makers who influence neurologic resource allocation.

New Alzheimer Disease Drugs, Long COVID and the Central Nervous System, and a Nasal Spray for Migraines-Highlights From the 2023 American Academy of Neurology Conference.

This Medical News article discusses research presented at the recent American Academy of Neurology Conference.

Neurologic and Neuromuscular Sequelae of COVID-19.

It is known that there can be neurologic complications related to acute infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Currently, there is a growing body of evidence that postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection can manifest as neurologic sequelae as a result of direct neuroinvasion, autoimmunity, and possibly lead to chronic neurodegenerative processes. Certain complications can be associated with worse prognosis, lower functional outcome, and higher mortality. This article provides an overview of the known pathophysiology, symptoms presentation, complications and treatment approaches of the post-acute neurologic and neuromuscular sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

[The neurology of COVID-19]. / La neurología de COVID-19.

The clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are reminiscent of those of acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by cytokine release syndrome and secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis that is observed in patients with other coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Neurologists face the challenge of assessing patients with pre-existing neurological diseases who have contracted SARS-CoV-2, patients with COVID-19 who present neurological emergencies, and patients who are carriers of the virus and have developed secondary neurological complications, either during the course of the disease or after it. Some authors and recent literature reports suggest that the presence of neurological manifestations in patients who are carriers of SARS-CoV-2 may be associated with a greater severity of the disease.

Las manifestaciones clínicas de COVID-19 recuerdan las del síndrome de insuficiencia respiratoria aguda inducido por el síndrome de liberación de citocinas y la linfohistiocitosis hemofagocitica observada en pacientes con otros coronavirus como SARS-CoV y MERS-CoV. Los neurólogos tienen el reto de evaluar pacientes con enfermedades neurológicas preexistentes que contraen SARS-CoV-2, pacientes con COVID-19 que presentan emergencias neurológicas y pacientes portadores del virus que desarrollan complicaciones neurológicas secundarias, durante el curso de la enfermedad o posterior a la misma. Algunos autores y reportes en la literatura recientes sugieren que las manifestaciones neurológicas en pacientes portadores de SARS-CoV-2 pueden asociarse con mayor gravedad de la enfermedad.

Global uncertainty in the diagnosis of neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection by both neurologists and non-neurologists: An international inter-observer variability study.

INTRODUCTION: Uniform case definitions are required to ensure harmonised reporting of neurological syndromes associated with SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, it is unclear how clinicians perceive the relative importance of SARS-CoV-2 in neurological syndromes, which risks under- or over-reporting. METHODS: We invited clinicians through global networks, including the World Federation of Neurology, to assess ten anonymised vignettes of SARS-CoV-2 neurological syndromes. Using standardised case definitions, clinicians assigned a diagnosis and ranked association with SARS-CoV-2. We compared diagnostic accuracy and assigned association ranks between different settings and specialties and calculated inter-rater agreement for case definitions as "poor" (κ ≤ 0.4), "moderate" or "good" (κ > 0.6). RESULTS: 1265 diagnoses were assigned by 146 participants from 45 countries on six continents. The highest correct proportion were cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST, 95.8%), Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS, 92.4%) and headache (91.6%) and the lowest encephalitis (72.8%), psychosis (53.8%) and encephalopathy (43.2%). Diagnostic accuracy was similar between neurologists and non-neurologists (median score 8 vs. 7/10, p = 0.1). Good inter-rater agreement was observed for five diagnoses: cranial neuropathy, headache, myelitis, CVST, and GBS and poor agreement for encephalopathy. In 13% of vignettes, clinicians incorrectly assigned lowest association ranks, regardless of setting and specialty. CONCLUSION: The case definitions can help with reporting of neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2, also in settings with few neurologists. However, encephalopathy, encephalitis, and psychosis were often misdiagnosed, and clinicians underestimated the association with SARS-CoV-2. Future work should refine the case definitions and provide training if global reporting of neurological syndromes associated with SARS-CoV-2 is to be robust.

Historical Perspectives on the Neurologic Manifestations of Viral Pandemics.

Neurologic symptoms have been reported in over 30% of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the pathogenesis of these symptoms remains under investigation. Here, we place the neurologic complications of COVID-19 within the context of three historical viral pandemics that have been associated with neurologic diseases: (1) the 1918 influenza pandemic, subsequent spread of encephalitis lethargica, and lessons for the study of COVID-19-related neuroinflammation; (2) the controversial link between the 1976 influenza vaccination campaign and Guillain-Barré Syndrome and its implications for the post- and parainfectious complications of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination; and (3) potential applications of scientific techniques developed in the wake of the human immunodeficiency virus pandemic to the study of postacute sequelae of COVID-19.

Neurological complications of COVID-19.

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused several pandemic peaks worldwide due to its high variability and infectiousness, and COVID-19 has become a long-standing global public health problem. There is growing evidence that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) frequently causes multi-organ injuries and more severe neurological manifestations. Therefore, increased awareness of possible neurological complications is beneficial in preventing and mitigating the impact of long-term sequelae and improving the prognostic outcome of critically ill patients with COVID-19. Here, we review the main pathways of SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion and the potential mechanisms causing neurological damage. We also discuss in detail neurological complications, aiming to provide cutting-edge basis for subsequent related basic research and clinical studies of diagnosis and treatment.

Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Albeit primarily a disease of respiratory tract, the 2019 coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) has been found to have causal association with a plethora of neurological, neuropsychiatric and psychological effects. This review aims to analyze them with a discussion of evolving therapeutic recommendations. METHODS: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched from 1 January 2020 to 30 May 2020 with the following key terms: "COVID-19", "SARS-CoV-2", "pandemic", "neuro-COVID", "stroke-COVID", "epilepsy-COVID", "COVID-encephalopathy", "SARS-CoV-2-encephalitis", "SARS-CoV-2-rhabdomyolysis", "COVID-demyelinating disease", "neurological manifestations", "psychosocial manifestations", "treatment recommendations", "COVID-19 and therapeutic changes", "psychiatry", "marginalised", "telemedicine", "mental health", "quarantine", "infodemic" and "social media". A few newspaper reports related to COVID-19 and psychosocial impacts have also been added as per context. RESULTS: Neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations of COVID-19 are abundant. Clinical features of both central and peripheral nervous system involvement are evident. These have been categorically analyzed briefly with literature support. Most of the psychological effects are secondary to pandemic-associated regulatory, socioeconomic and psychosocial changes. CONCLUSION: Neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations of this disease are only beginning to unravel. This demands a wide index of suspicion for prompt diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 to prevent further complications and mortality.

Les impacts neurologiques et neuropsychiatriques d'une infection à la COVID-19. CONTEXTE: Bien qu'il s'agisse principalement d'une maladie des voies respiratoires, la maladie infectieuse à coronavirus apparue en 2019 (COVID-19) s'est avérée avoir un lien de causalité avec une pléthore d'impacts d'ordre neurologique, neuropsychiatrique et psychologique. Cette étude entend donc analyser ces impacts tout en discutant l'évolution des recommandations thérapeutiques se rapportant à cette maladie. MÉTHODES: Les bases de données PubMed et Google Scholar ont été interrogées entre les 1er janvier et 30 mai 2020. Les termes clés suivants ont été utilisés : « COVID-19 ¼, « SRAS ­ CoV-2 ¼, « Pandémie ¼, « Neuro ­ COVID ¼, « AVC ­ COVID ¼, « Épilepsie ­ COVID ¼, « COVID ­ encéphalopathie ¼, « SRAS ­ CoV-2 ­ encéphalite ¼, « SRAS ­ CoV-2 ­ rhabdomyolyse ¼, « COVID ­ maladie démyélinisante ¼, « Manifestations neurologiques ¼, « Manifestations psychosociales ¼, « Recommandations thérapeutiques ¼, « COVID-19 et changement thérapeutiques ¼, « Psychiatrie ¼, « Marginalisés ¼, « Télémédecine ¼, « Santé mentale ¼, « Quarantaine ¼, « Infodémique ¼ et « Médias sociaux ¼. De plus, quelques articles de journaux relatifs à la pandémie de COVID-19 et à ses impacts psychosociaux ont également été ajoutés en fonction du contexte. RÉSULTATS: Il appert que les manifestations neurologiques et neuropsychiatriques des infections à la COVID-19 sont nombreuses. Les caractéristiques cliniques d'une implication des systèmes nerveux central et périphérique sautent désormais aux yeux. Ces caractéristiques ont fait l'objet d'une brève analyse systématique à l'aide de publications scientifiques. En outre, la plupart des impacts d'ordre psychologique de cette pandémie se sont révélés moins apparents que les changements réglementaires, socioéconomiques et psychosociaux. CONCLUSION: Les manifestations neurologiques et neuropsychiatriques de cette maladie ne font que commencer à être élucidées. Cela exige donc une capacité accrue de vigilance en vue d'un diagnostic rapide, et ce, afin de prévenir des complications additionnelles et une mortalité accrue.

An eye to the future: Acute and long-term neuro-ophthalmological and neurological complications of COVID-19.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the global population and has produced compelling evidence of non-pulmonary organ dysfunction, including the nervous system. It is vital that specialists in ophthalmology and neurology are informed of the potential complications of COVID-19 and gain a deeper understanding of how COVID-19 can cause diseases of the nervous system. In this review we detail four possible mechanisms by which COVID-19 infection may result in neurological or neuro-ophthalmological complications: (1) Toxic and metabolic effects of severe pulmonary COVID-19 disease on the neural axis including hypoxia and the systemic hyper-inflammatory state, (2) endothelial dysfunction, (3) dysimmune responses directed again the neuroaxis, and (4) direct neuro-invasion and injury by the virus itself. We explore the pathological evidence for each of these and how they may link to neuro-ophthalmological disorders. Finally, we explore the evidence for long-term neurological and neuro-ophthalmological complications of COVID-19, with a focus on neurodegeneration.

Pathogenesis Underlying Neurological Manifestations of Long COVID Syndrome and Potential Therapeutics.

The development of long-term symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) more than four weeks after primary infection, termed "long COVID" or post-acute sequela of COVID-19 (PASC), can implicate persistent neurological complications in up to one third of patients and present as fatigue, "brain fog", headaches, cognitive impairment, dysautonomia, neuropsychiatric symptoms, anosmia, hypogeusia, and peripheral neuropathy. Pathogenic mechanisms of these symptoms of long COVID remain largely unclear; however, several hypotheses implicate both nervous system and systemic pathogenic mechanisms such as SARS-CoV2 viral persistence and neuroinvasion, abnormal immunological response, autoimmunity, coagulopathies, and endotheliopathy. Outside of the CNS, SARS-CoV-2 can invade the support and stem cells of the olfactory epithelium leading to persistent alterations to olfactory function. SARS-CoV-2 infection may induce abnormalities in innate and adaptive immunity including monocyte expansion, T-cell exhaustion, and prolonged cytokine release, which may cause neuroinflammatory responses and microglia activation, white matter abnormalities, and microvascular changes. Additionally, microvascular clot formation can occlude capillaries and endotheliopathy, due to SARS-CoV-2 protease activity and complement activation, can contribute to hypoxic neuronal injury and blood-brain barrier dysfunction, respectively. Current therapeutics target pathological mechanisms by employing antivirals, decreasing inflammation, and promoting olfactory epithelium regeneration. Thus, from laboratory evidence and clinical trials in the literature, we sought to synthesize the pathophysiological pathways underlying neurological symptoms of long COVID and potential therapeutics.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the nervous system.

INTRODUCTION: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is the largest global public health struggle. The spread of the novel coronavirus had resulted in almost 7 million deaths worldwide by January 2023. STATE OF THE ART: The most common symptoms during the acute phase of COVID-19 are respiratory. However, many individuals present various neurological deficits at different stages of the infection. Furthermore, there are post-infectious complications that can be present within weeks after the initial symptoms. Both the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS, respectively) can be affected. Many potential mechanisms and hypotheses regarding the neuropathology behind COVID-19 have been proposed. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The distribution of neurological symptoms during COVID-19 infection among studies differs greatly, which is mostly due to differing inclusion criteria. One of the most significant is incidence involving CNS circulation. In this review, we present basic information regarding the novel coronavirus, the possible routes along which the pathogen can reach the nervous system, neuropathology mechanisms, and neurological symptoms following COVID-19. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: It seems that many factors, resulting both from the properties of the virus and from systemic responses to infection, play a role in developing neurological symptoms. The long-term effect of the virus on the nervous system is still unknown.

A Retrospective Observational Study of Neurological Manifestations in COVID-19 (SON-CoV).

OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has neurologic manifestations associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to retrospectively analyze SARS COVID-19 patients with neurological manifestations and identify patterns of presentation including the site of neuroaxis involvement, neuroimaging, and associated systemic involvement. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: This retrospective observational study was conducted at two tertiary care hospitals in western Rajasthan. Data on age, sex, presenting symptoms, and comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, cardiac, cerebrovascular disease, and cancer) were collected from 28th February 2020 to 31st December 2020 through medical records, discharge summaries, and radiological studies. Verbal/written patient consent was obtained due to the prevailing COVID-19 norms at the time of the first wave. Major inclusion criteria were as follows: age >18 years, consent from patient/surrogate, positive RT-PCR report in case of active COVID cases, or positive COVID antibody test in case of post-COVID neurological sequelae. All neurological manifestations were reviewed by at least two neurologists and were divided into central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) manifestations. Systemic features and their temporal relationship with neurological features were recorded. Various other specialized assessments and therapeutic interventions were conducted. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software. A Chi-square test was performed to determine the association between variables. Student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to determine differences in mean values. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age was 57.32 years for the CNS group and 40 years for the PNS group (p = 0.025). Age was significantly lower in the PNS group than in the CNS group (p = 0.025). Anemia, leucocytosis, and elevated serum creatinine were more commonly seen in the CNS group, although the difference was not statistically significant. The most common CNS manifestations were stroke (41.8%), of which ischemic stroke constituted 83% of cases, followed by seizure (22%), encephalopathy (20.9%), headache (15.1%), and vertigo (3.8%). The most common PNS manifestation was neuropathy (57%), which included Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), critical illness neuropathy, and autonomic neuropathy Conclusion: CNS symptoms of COVID-19 are more common than PNS symptoms. Stroke is the most frequent (46%) COVID-CNS symptom, which occurs in people of age above 35 years and is associated with high mortality.

[Viral diseases of the nervous system-Selected new and old viruses]. / Virale Erkrankungen des Nervensystems ­ ausgewählte neue und alte Viren.

Viral diseases of the nervous system are ancient and poliomyelitis was described in Egypt as early as 2000 BC. They can cause a wide range of neurological symptoms, such as meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, Guillain-Barré-like syndrome and stroke, often leaving mild to severe residuals. Depending on the pathogen, the symptoms appear quickly within hours, or lead to increasing chronic symptoms within 1 week or months. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was newly identified in January 2020 and occurs worldwide, illustrates the sequelae of a phenomenon that has been known for centuries, the possible rapid spread of pathogen-related infectious diseases. Due to vaccination programs some pathogens are becoming rarer or are considered to be eradicated. Nevertheless, vaccination programs, especially in the poorer regions, are repeatedly interrupted, for example by wars. The most recent example is the interruption of vaccination against poliomyelitis in Ukraine. As life expectancy continues to rise and years of life lost to infectious diseases decrease, the new infectious disease threat is likely to come from emerging and re-emerging infections; however, according to a recent analysis of population data from 29 countries, life expectancy during the corona pandemic has decreased, e.g., by 28 months in the USA and by 6 months in Germany. Climate change, rapid urbanization and changing land-use patterns could increase the risk in the coming decades. In particular, the climate change can alter the spectrum of global pathogens and especially vector-borne infections can spread to new areas. A sustained increase in travel, trade and mobility enables the pathogens to spread quickly.