EUROPE/ITALY - In 25 years 35 new infections, experts study remedies, from Sars to pandemics of influenza

Monday, 5 July 2004

Rome (Fides Service) - Thirty five new infectious diseases have emerged in the last 25 years including HIV, BSE, Ebola, SARS and various aggressive viruses passed from birds to humans. These epidemics were favoured by population growth, intensive production of poultry and pigs, as well as an increase in international mobility.
The subject was discussed by an international conference “Emerging and Re-emerging infections: Impact on Society, Economy and Medicine”, held in Siena to mark 100 years of vaccine research.
Among the proposals discussed by the experts who reflected on the dangers of infective epidemics, updating of World Health Organisation WHO guidelines for the management of global infectious diseases, greater cooperation and more investment in research and prevention.
Today’s life styles and easy mobility mean that an epidemic can spread around the world in a few hours. Every year normal influenza epidemics affect between 5% and 20% of the population. A pandemic of influenza would affect 30-50% of the population with a high mortality rate. Maintaining the present rate of vaccine production only 5% of the world’s population could be vaccinated. Experts say that in the next 10-20 years we can expect dozens of infections which could cause global panic.
To obtain results in scientific research it is necessary to have international regulations to control and monitor infectious diseases. Today WHO is working to update the International Health Regulations, drafted in 1951, to meet present and future needs in order to face possible health emergencies.
The 100 days of the SARS epidemic, the experts recalled, demonstrated that a disease which develops in a remote area can become a global problem in a few days: 8.000 estimated cases, 774 confirmed deaths, 29 countries affected. The consequences of SARS can be measured also in economic terms: an estimated world cost in 2003 of 40 billion dollars, because of cancelled travelling, reduction in trade, lost investments. (AP) (5/7/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:32; Parole:355)


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