Strategies to Deal with Emerging New Diseases (14.3)

Question 1

Emerging infectious diseases may be defined as:

Answer 1

• previously unrecognised diseases
• diseases that have increased in incidence, virulence or geographical range over the past 20 years
• diseases that may increase in the new future

Question 2

State what infectious diseases may be caused by

Answer 2

Pathogens

Question 3

State whether or not new diseases can emerge due to mutations in a pathogen

Answer 3

Yes.

Question 4

State whether or not new diseases may emerge as pathogens adapt to a new host under different selection pressures or circumstances

Answer 4

Yes.

Question 5

State 2 ways news diseases can emerge

Answer 5

1. Mutations in pathogen

2. Adaptation of pathogens to new hosts

Question 6

State what mutations in a pathogen may increase

Answer 6

The ability of the pathogen to move into a wider range of host organisms

Question 7

State what a disease that passes from another animal to a human host is known as

Answer 7

Zoonotic disease

Question 8

Describe epidemic

Answer 8

Sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in the area

Question 9

State what a disease is referred to when it reaches global proportions

Answer 9

Pandemic

Question 10

State 5 factors which influence the emergence and spread of diseases

Answer 10

1. Human demographics
2. Human behaviour
3. Changes in farming practices and food production
4. Uncontrolled or inappropriate use of antimicrobials
5. Lack of sanitation and poor hygiene

Question 11

Describe pandemic

Answer 11

An epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents and affected a large number of people

Question 12

State what bacterial cells exchange between themselves

Answer 12

Plasmid DNA

Question 13

State by what process bacterial cells exchange plasmid DNA between themselves

Answer 13

Horizontal gene transfer

Question 14

Describe horizontal gene transfer

Answer 14

Transfer of genes between cells

Question 15

State where outbreaks of various diseases are common

Answer 15

Developing countries or isolated communities in developed countries

Question 16

State what developing countries or isolated communities in developing countries typically lack that increases the chance of various disease outbreak

Answer 16

Infrastructure for reliable sanitation amenities (e.g. clean running water, effective sewerage systems and adequate health services)

Question 17

State what wildlife and agricultural species are at risk of

Answer 17

New disease emergence from pathogens already in the environment and from introduced species

Question 18

State why native species are susceptible to exotic pathogenic species

Answer 18

Exotic species originate from another country and native species have not coevolved with them and so lack defences against such pathogens

Question 19

State what must occur for a fast-spreading disease to be controlled

Answer 19

1. Disease cause must be identified

2. Test for infection developed

Question 20

Describe 2 techniques that can be used to test for specific infections

Answer 20

1. PCR to allow for full genome sequencing

2. ELISA

Question 21

State what ELISA represents

Answer 21

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Question 22

State what ELISA identifies

Answer 22

Presence of specific proteins

Question 23

State 7 factors which aid disease control

Answer 23

1. Prevention
2. Isolation and quarantine
3. Control carriers
4. Eradication of vectors
5. Vaccination
6. Education
7. Response plans

Question 24

Describe prevention as a method to aid disease control

Answer 24

Educate people about how disease spreads

Question 25

Describe isolation and quarantine as a method to aid disease control

Answer 25

Infected people in hospital separated from other patients

Question 26

Describe control carriers as a method to aid disease control

Answer 26

Destroy known carriers and ban consumption and commercialisation of meta and egg products which may be contaminated

Question 27

Describe eradication of vectors as a method to aid disease control

Answer 27

Insect vectors should be eradicated (e.g. mosquitoes for malaria spread)

Question 28

Describe vaccination as a method to aid disease control

Answer 28

Effective in preventing future infection

Question 29

Describe education as a method to aid disease control

Answer 29

Inform people of the cause of the disease

Question 30

Describe response plans as a method to aid disease control

Answer 30

Plans by government or communities need to be put in place to enforce the other 6 steps in the infection control response plan