Monday, November 9, 2009
A new perspective on preventing an epidemic: How H1N1 compares to SARS and Nipah virus
Crofsblog, H5N1, provided a referral to a blog submission originally authored by Dr. Aaron Bernstein on Thrive, a blog supported by Children's Hospital Boston.
The blog submission provides perspective on the way some people in southeast Asia may view 2009 H1N1 - in the context of other emerging infectious diseases such as SARS and Nipah virus, diseases with relatively high mortality rates.
More importantly, however, Dr. Bernstein takes this opportunity to call for prevention of epidemics such as H1N1 from a much broader level, by highlighting the linkage between ecological changes and global health, as he touches on factors affecting intermediate hosts (e.g., expansion of pig farming, changing dietary diversity) and viral reservoirs (e.g., deforestation).
Dr. Bernstein admits, "This comparison is by no means made to belittle H1N1 and its ill effects."
Dr. Bernstein's entire blog submission is worth a read and can be viewed at: http://childrenshospitalblog.org/a-new-perspective-on-preventing-an-epidemic-how-h1n1-compares-to-sars-and-the-nipah-virus/
The blog submission provides perspective on the way some people in southeast Asia may view 2009 H1N1 - in the context of other emerging infectious diseases such as SARS and Nipah virus, diseases with relatively high mortality rates.
More importantly, however, Dr. Bernstein takes this opportunity to call for prevention of epidemics such as H1N1 from a much broader level, by highlighting the linkage between ecological changes and global health, as he touches on factors affecting intermediate hosts (e.g., expansion of pig farming, changing dietary diversity) and viral reservoirs (e.g., deforestation).
Dr. Bernstein admits, "This comparison is by no means made to belittle H1N1 and its ill effects."
Dr. Bernstein's entire blog submission is worth a read and can be viewed at: http://childrenshospitalblog.org/a-new-perspective-on-preventing-an-epidemic-how-h1n1-compares-to-sars-and-the-nipah-virus/
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