What are some of the emerging diseases and disorders? Identify and briefly describe some of these diseases and disorders and explain how or why they are emerging.

Emerging diseases and disorders are health issues that have newly appeared in a population or have existed but are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range. The emergence of these diseases can be attributed to various factors, including environmental changes, human behavior, globalization, and the evolution of pathogens. Here are some notable emerging diseases and disorders:

1. COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2):

   • Description: Caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can lead to severe respiratory distress and has significant mortality rates.
   • Emergence: First identified in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, the emergence of COVID-19 was fueled by global travel, close human-animal interactions, and widespread urbanization. Its rapid spread and mutation potential exemplified how interconnected the world is.

2. Zika Virus:

   • Description: Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. It became particularly concerning due to its association with serious birth defects (microcephaly) when pregnant women are infected.
   • Emergence: Previously isolated to Africa and parts of Asia, Zika spread rapidly through the Americas starting in 2015, facilitated by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and global travel patterns.

3. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):

   • Description: While not a disease per se, AMR refers to the ability of microbes to resist the effects of drugs that once treated them effectively. This includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
   • Emergence: Rising overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans and agriculture have accelerated the development of AMR. As a result, common infections are becoming harder to treat and are associated with higher medical costs and mortality rates.

4. Nipah Virus Infection:

   • Description: This zoonotic disease, transmitted from animals (especially bats) to humans, can cause fever, respiratory problems, and encephalitis. It has had outbreaks in South Asia with high mortality rates.
   • Emergence: Nipah virus infections can emerge due to increased human-wildlife interaction, habitat destruction, and changing land use patterns.

5. Dengue Fever:

   • Description: A mosquito-borne viral infection that causes severe flu-like symptoms, and in some cases, develops into severe dengue (dengue hemorrhagic fever).
   • Emergence: Global warming and urbanization have expanded the range of Aedes mosquitoes, leading to a rise in dengue cases in regions previously unaffected or with low incidence.

6. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS):

   • Description: Caused by Hantaviruses from rodent excreta, HPS can lead to severe respiratory distress and is often fatal.
   • Emergence: Changes in climate, agriculture, and land use contribute to increased interactions between humans and rodent populations, resulting in more cases.

7. New Tick-Borne Diseases:

   • Description: Diseases caused by ticks, such as Lyme disease and newly recognized infections like Powassan virus and Anaplasmosis, are on the rise.
   • Emergence: Climate change has expanded tick habitats, while changes in land use and human encroachment into tick habitats increase exposure risk.

8. Chronic Diseases Amplified by Lifestyle Factors:

   • Example: Obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases continue to rise globally, influenced by sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, and increasing stress levels.
   • Emergence: Factors driving the trend include urbanization, fast food culture, and sedentary behaviors associated with technology.

Emerging diseases and disorders often arise from the interplay of biological, environmental, and social determinants. Addressing these threats requires a One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health strategies.

Here’s a concise overview of some emerging diseases and disorders:

1. COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2):

   • Description: A respiratory illness with severe health impacts caused by a novel coronavirus.
   • Emergence: First identified in 2019, its rapid global spread was facilitated by travel and urbanization.

2. Zika Virus:

   • Description: A mosquito-borne virus linked to birth defects in infants when mothers are infected.
   • Emergence: Spread explosively in the Americas from 2015, previously confined to Africa and Asia.

3. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):

   • Description: The ability of microbes to resist drugs, making common infections harder to treat.
   • Emergence: Driven by antibiotic overuse in healthcare and agriculture.

4. Nipah Virus Infection:

   • Description: A zoonotic disease causing severe respiratory illness and encephalitis.
   • Emergence: Increased human-wildlife interaction and habitat destruction contribute to outbreaks.

5. Dengue Fever:

   • Description: A mosquito-borne viral infection causing severe flu-like symptoms and potentially serious complications.
   • Emergence: Expanded range of mosquitoes linked to climate change and urbanization.

6. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS):

   • Description: Transmitted through rodent excretions, leading to severe respiratory illness.
   • Emergence: Increased human-rodent interactions due to climate and land use changes.

7. New Tick-Borne Diseases:

   • Description: Includes illnesses like Lyme disease, caused by tick bites.
   • Emergence: Climate change and land use have expanded tick habitats and increased exposure.

8. Chronic Lifestyle Diseases:

   • Example: Rising rates of obesity and diabetes due to sedentary lifestyles and poor diets.
   • Emergence: Influenced by urbanization and a fast-food culture.

These diseases emerge due to the complex interactions between human behavior, environmental changes, and biological factors. Addressing them requires integrated health strategies.

Here’s a brief overview of emerging diseases and disorders:

1. COVID-19: A respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2, first identified in 2019, spread rapidly due to global travel.

2. Zika Virus: A mosquito-borne virus linked to birth defects, which spread widely in the Americas starting in 2015.

3. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Microbes resisting treatment due to overuse of antibiotics, making infections harder to manage.

4. Nipah Virus: A zoonotic virus from bats causing severe illness; its emergence relates to increased human-wildlife interactions.

5. Dengue Fever: A viral infection spread by mosquitoes, increasing due to climate change and urbanization.

6. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: Severe respiratory illness from rodent excretions, rising from more human-rodent interactions.

7. New Tick-Borne Diseases: Includes Lyme disease, driven by expanded tick habitats from climate change.

8. Chronic Lifestyle Diseases: Conditions like obesity and diabetes are rising due to unhealthy lifestyles linked to urbanization.

These diseases emerge from complex interactions between environmental, social, and biological factors.