Infectious Diseases

** A wonderful website to view when you are wondering about different types of diseases is The Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/ . This website presents emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, ideas about prevention, tips on safe international travel, new medical treatment, and much more.

Emerging diseases may affect the future of humans in many ways. One way may be that, as new diseases emerge, we will not know how to cure them. Also, these diseases may evolve to carry a resistance to our current list of antibiotic treatments. If a disease becomes resistant to our antibiotics and is a type that spreads rapidly, we may very well find our selves in the face of an epidemic such as the Bubonic Plague that “swept through Europe in the 14th century and killed an estimated 25 million people, or 30–60% of the European population.” (Wikipedia Par. 3)

Baylor College of Medicine’s website states, “The World Health Organization warned in its 2007 report that infectious diseases are emerging at a rate that has not been seen before.” (Par. 3) This website also makes note that, with infectious diseases constantly emerging and reemerging, we must be prepared for the threat of bioterrorism. (Par. 13) The is a rather scary thought, especially considering the threats that our nation has been under over the last 10 – 15 years and even the recent Boston Marathon Bombing.

As diseases continue to emerge, technology continues to advance at an equally alarming rate. If these deadly emerging infectious diseases get into the hands of the wrong people, our world may be in very real danger.

Baylor College of Medicine. Emerging Infectious Diseases. (Baylor College of Medicine: Last Modified July 31, 2012). Viewed April 29, 2013. http://www.bcm.edu/molvir/eid

Wikepidia. Bubonic plague. (Wikepidia: The Free Encyclopedia Last Updated: 29 April 2013 at 13:44. Viewed April 29, 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubonic_plague