General Articles
Emerging infectious diseases
Authors:
Sirimali Fernando ,
LK
About Sirimali
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Sri Jayewardenapura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda
Gathsaurie Neelika Malavige,
LK
About Gathsaurie
Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8.
Panduka Karunaratne,
LK
About Panduka
Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8.
Pabha Palihawadana,
LK
About Pabha
Epidemiology Unit, Department of Health Services, 231, de Saram Place, Colombo.
Tissa Vitarana
LK
About Tissa
Ministry of Science and Technology, Colombo.
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) cause a significant burden on the global economies and are a major public health problem in many countries. The incidence of EID has increased dramatically in recent years, mainly due to zoonotic infections.
Sri Lanka has also been significantly affected by EIDs such as dengue, chikungunya and antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. Diseases such as leptospirosis, which have been present for many decades in Sri Lanka are now causing significant public health problems and have been associated with very high mortality. In addition, infections due to the avian influenza A (H5N1) strain, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus and the Nipah virus are some of the pathogens which have a potential of causing severe epidemics in Sri Lanka in the future.
As it is beyond the scope of this review to discuss all the current EIDs, it will mainly concentrate on EIDs that have recently caused major public health problems in Sri Lanka and also those that have a possibility of causing major epidemics.
How to Cite:
Fernando, S., Malavige, G.N., Karunaratne, P., Palihawadana, P. and Vitarana, T., 2008. Emerging infectious diseases. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 36, pp.127–133. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v36i0.8051
Published on
30 Nov 2008.
Peer Reviewed
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