Spread of Infectious Diseases

It's flu season again, but the sneezing and coughing around you may be more than the seasonal annoyance. Infectious diseases have taken over headlines with news of super-resistant germs and bioterrorism. This is especially worrying in our global age when millions frequently travel from dense metropolis to dense metropolis. Considering these factors—frequent international travel, highly populated cities, possibility of bioterrorism, and excess use of antibiotics—our modern world may be incubating a pandemic.

Via freeways and airports, local diseases can become national and worldwide diseases overnight. The SARS epidemic in 2003 showed how easily diseases can spread from one corner of the world to another. Many health agencies now have their eyes on the next possible global outbreak: bird flu.

Though it primarily infects birds now, the avian influenza virus can potentially mutate to a form that can readily transmit from person to person. Cases of humans contracting the virus have risen steadily since 2003. (This does not mean the avian influenza virus has mutated to this form yet; nearly all those infected had extensive contact with infected birds.) Billions have gone toward research and contingency plans already. But even so, should this virus become efficiently contagious to humans, will we be ready?

Densely populated cities make such questions especially difficult to answer. It does not require a particularly contagious germ to infect many in such close proximities. Food- or water-borne bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli can spread widely even if they're not airborne. The contaminated spinach scare not long ago points to how unpredictable and sudden an outbreak can happen. In a large city, thousands can become ill before a recall can occur, even if contamination was noticed quickly.

And lastly, terrorists are well aware of these vulnerabilities. Anthrax, or small pox, or many other lethal diseases can play their part in a terrorist plot. An outbreak, it seems, does not even have to depend on chance.

People will try to protect themselves as best as they can, naturally. We have modern medicine, use as much as possible! But even such overzealous hand-washing can make us sicker. New breeds of bacteria such as MRSA are resisting nearly all of our antibiotics. These "superbugs" have developed resistance to withstand drugs that were effective even a few years ago. New, more powerful antibiotics will only work so long before the next mutation makes them obsolete. Frequent exposure like this only builds up the bacteria's resistance. Many doctors now advise against prescribing antibiotics as a cure-all, especially for viral infections on which antibiotics have no effect.

Despite the large-scale scope of the threat, you do have control over the spread of infectious diseases. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly, particularly after contact with food and after using the restroom. Keep your vaccinations up-to-date and use antibiotics sensibly. At home, ensure that your pet is healthy as well, and be particularly cautious in the restroom and kitchen. Practice safe sex. Finally, if you have an infection’s symptoms, stay at home if at all possible.

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