Socioeconomic elements could be a key factor influencing the emergence and proliferation of animal-linked disease outbreaks, based on recent studies by the University of Georgia and Oklahoma State University.
The research indicated that outbreaks of bacterial illnesses, such as tuberculosis, plague, and salmonella, were fueled by issues such as poverty, global travel, and inadequate access to healthcare, among others.
On the other hand, environmental elements like shifting weather patterns, natural calamities, and proximity to livestock or wildlife can trigger viral disease outbreaks. However, it is often the socioeconomic conditions that facilitate the widespread transmission of these diseases.
“It’s crucial to consider the circumstances we are fostering that might lead to future disease outbreaks,” remarked Payton Phillips, the primary author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at UGA’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. “Our actions, healthcare systems, travel habits, and economic situations contribute significantly to disease outbreaks.”
“Recognizing that these factors hold such importance, we must advocate for enhanced sanitation, better water quality, and increased funding for medical measures to manage outbreaks effectively.”
Socioeconomic and environmental elements vital for preventing disease outbreaks
The investigators examined data from over 300 worldwide disease outbreaks, including the 100 largest occurrences from 1977 to 2017. They evaluated 48 various drivers of disease outbreaks, categorized into socioeconomic or environmental factors.
Key socioeconomic elements included antibiotic usage, contaminated water and food supplies, sewage management, and public health infrastructure. Environmental factors involved climate change; the escalation of disease vectors, such as mosquitoes; and the introduction of invasive species, among others.
“If we recognize there are socioeconomic challenges, like inadequate water sanitation in a specific region, we can work to address it before an outbreak occurs,” Phillips noted. “We can and should take a more proactive approach.”
New diseases frequently originate from animals
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over six in ten infectious diseases in humans stem from animal populations, with 75% of emerging illnesses deriving from animals.
Individuals typically contract these diseases through interactions with animals, either directly by touching an unwell animal or being bitten, or indirectly by consuming contaminated food or water, such as raw milk or undercooked meat.
“Numerous viruses naturally exist in specific animal species,” Phillips explained. “However, it is our actions that enable their transmission.”
For instance, experts believe that the viruses responsible for Ebola originated in bats. Once an Ebola outbreak transfers to humans, the disease begins to spread swiftly from person to person.
Not all diseases can be transmitted from human to human. Avian influenza, for example, does not appear to spread easily from an infected individual to another. Yet, as more species become infected with a virus or bacteria, the risk of evolution — and the potential for human transmission — increases.
Published in Microorganisms, the study was co-authored by Sneha Dharwadkar, a doctoral candidate within the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, and Mekala Sundaram, an assistant professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases and the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Additional co-authors include Negin Nazari, Antoine Filion, Benedicta Akaribo, and Patrick Stephens from Oklahoma State University.
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