Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in 2022

ABSTRACT

Emerging infectious diseases are commonly defined as outbreaks of previously unknown diseases or known diseases that are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range in the last decades or the persistence of infectious diseases that cannot be controlled. The reappearance of a previously known infection after a period of disappearance or decline in incidence is known as re-emergence. Many factors contribute to the emergence or re-emergence of a disease. Research indicates that newly emergent infections may result from changes in or the evolution of existing organisms, the spread of known diseases to new geographic areas or new hosts (e.g. humans), or the appearance of previously unrecognized infections in persons living or working in areas undergoing ecologic changes. This increases individual exposure to insects, animals, and environmental sources which may harbor new or unusual infectious agents. Recent decades have seen several emerging and re-emerging infections like HIV, SARS-1, MERS, Zika virus and most recently SARS-CoV-2 and monkeypox. Some of them, like the Zika virus or Ebola virus diseases, have had a limited global impact. Others, however, have affected the entire world. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is present on all continents and has caused approximately 18 million deaths worldwide thus far. The full economic and social impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is still under investigation, but is likely to be massive. In my presentation, I will analyze how we managed the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Estonia, what measures were correct and which mistakes have been made. We still are learning how to live with the virus so that our lives are minimally disturbed. Another global threat is constantly increasing antibiotic resistance that could be controlled by improving antibiotic stewardship and hospital hygiene. Improved control over the spread of antibiotic-resistant encoding genes would enable stopping antibiotic resistance as well. In my presentation, I will also look at the future - it is unlikely that emerging/re-emerging infections are completely avoided, but their societal damage could be minimized by better preparedness for emerging situations. The latter requires cooperation between neighboring countries and outside, especially strengthening research on host-pathogen interactions.