title: Zoonotic diseases and human health: the human influenza example.
abstract: Over the past few decades a large number of new and emerging infectious diseases have  been recognised in humans, partly because of improved diagnostic technologies and increased  awareness and also, partly because of dynamic ecological changes between human hosts and  their exposure to animals and the environment (Coker et al. 2011). Some 177 new pathogenic  organisms have been recognised to be 'emerging', that is, have newly arisen or been newly  introduced into human populations; almost three quarters  of these, 130 (73%), have come  from zoonotic origins (Cascio et al. 2011; Cutler, Fooks &amp; Van Der Poel 2010; Taylor, Latham  &amp; Woolhouse 2001; Woolhouse &amp; Gowtage-Sequeria 2005). One of the most prevalent and  important human infectious disease is influenza, a disease responsible globally for a quarter  million deaths annually. In the USA alone the toll from influenza is estimated at 36 000 deaths  and 226 000 hospitalisations, and it ranks as the most important cause of vaccine preventable  mortality in that country (CDC 2010). The epidemiological behaviour of human influenza  clearly defines it as an emerging infectious disease and the recent understanding of its zoonotic  origins has contributed much to  the understanding of its behaviour in humans (Fauci 2006).
authors: National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham. barrys@nicd.ac.za.
authors: Barry D
authors: BD
authors: Schoub
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines