Abstract
In the past decade, we have had two significant viral epidemics, first, severe acuter respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002/2003 and then the H1N1 09 influenza A pandemic in 2009/2010. Several other viruses have threatened, but so far, not evolved into pandemics, including strains of H5, H7, and H9 avian influence, and more recently, a novel coronavirus is thought to have originated in the Middle East. Thankfully, neither of the recent viral epidemics came remotely close to the severity of the 1918 influenza pandemic. However, both viruses did present a major challenge to public health authorities and clinicians managing patients with epidemic respiratory infections, from which we have learnt some significant lessons about the strengths and weaknesses of international, national, and local responses to emerging epidemics. It should also be remembered that even though H1N1 09 was considered a mild infection no worse than usual seasonal influenza, it is still estimated to have caused between 200,000 and 300,000 deaths worldwide. Given the constant stream of candidates identified, increasing global population, and increasing proximity of animals and humans favouring interspecies transmission, further epidemics are not only inevitable, but are likely to occur with increasing regularity. In this chapter, we will focus on what was learnt from the SARS and H1N1 09 experiences regarding what we should and should not do, in our attempts to control the next new epidemic virus that emerges.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Human Respiratory Viral Infections |
Editors | Sunit K. Singh |
Place of Publication | U.S. |
Publisher | CRC Press |
Pages | 219-229 |
Number of pages | 11 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781466583207 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- epidemics
- respiratory infections
- virus diseases