Emerging Zoonoses versus Neglected zoonoses
Oral communication in Seminarios VISAVET 2016
September 29th, 2016
Within the large group of infectious diseases, Emerging Diseases (EDs) and Neglected Diseases (NDs) are health terms that also relate to certain socio-political environments. From this point of view, the scientific, sanitary, and sociopolitical attention to EDs, it can be deeply criticized because it prioritizes the interest of certain countries, mainly in our social and commercial environment, among other things, placing free trade above other global health interests. In this context, the EDs (mostly, but not always, falling under the term "tropical") have historically suffered from a lack of attention in international health efforts, which has led to a chronic failure in surveillance, prevention and treatment options of these processes.
However, the focus on communicable diseases is a dynamic process, so that what today is not considered as an interesting process ("unattended") in our environment, it can turn out to be a priority disease in a short period due to changes in its epidemiological situation. In any case, EDs have a very high impact on the poorest, remaining as a key barrier that blocks the health and social development of broad areas of our planet. International efforts should prioritize these diseases, taking economical, technical and human resources from other diseases, much more striking, but with a much lower global health impact.
Servicio de Zoonosis Emergentes, de Baja Prevalencia y Agresivos Biológicos (NED). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). | |
Link to Seminars VISAVET 2016