Disease Emergence and Resurgence: The Wildlife-Human Connection

Zoonotics, diseases in wildlife that are transmittable to humans, is a vast field full of technicalities. Nevertheless, the topic is an important one not only for wildlife control professionals but also for those wanting to learn more about the wildlife-human disease interface. According to one calculation, 832 or 49% of all 1,709 known pathogens, are zoonotic. If we consider the 156 diseases that are designated as "emerging", 114 are zoonotic. (Friend, 2006). This kind of statistic reminds us that while wildlife is beautiful and its presence enriches our lives; wildlife is also a threat to our survival. 

In 2006, the United States Geological Service published Disease Emergence and Resurgence: The Wildlife-Human Connection by Milton Friend. This document, while 400 pages long, presents the various issues surrounding zoonotics in as popular a writing style as the content will permit. In lucid writing, filled with numerous illustrations and side bars, Friend explains why the public should be concerned about zoonotics. The text provides a call for greater funding to support what is termed, "One Health", a term that says that wildlife health plays a vital role in protecting the health of humans and livestock. Friend says that humans must fund improved surveillance programs so that disease outbreaks can be discovered quickly so that they can be treated quickly. One need only consider Avian Influenza or H1N1 (mistakenly called the Swine Flu) to recognize how important early detection and response is to protect the health of the larger society.

If you think that is a lot, note that I have only touched on the content of chapter 1. The book has so much more to say, of which I will touch on in future blogs. You don't have to wait for me though, as you can download the book for free at USGS Zoonotics.

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP