Outbreak in Malaysia Outbreak in Malaysia New, Stronger Infectious Diseases Threaten World Associated Press, Copyright 2000 April 27, 2000 � Four reported outbreaks of unusual infections around the world have illustrated the surprising potential of new microbes to emerge and old ones to return with a vengeance. "On a good day, we hold them at bay. On a bad day, they're winning," said Dr. Michael Osterholm of ican Inc. of Eden Prairie, Minn., an Internet information company focusing on infectious diseases. Osterholm, who was Minnesota's state epidemiologist for 24 years, wrote an editorial on emerging infections in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, which carried reports on the four outbreaks. The cases include a Nebraska farm boy who caught drug-resistant salmonella from infected cows that apparently had been given antibiotics; Malaysian pig farmers killed by microbes caught from their animals; and hundreds of Italian schoolchildren sickened by bacteria-contaminated cold corn salad. Finally, a diabetic Atlanta boy needed bowel surgery twice for a severe bacterial infection after eating a holiday chitterlings feast. "The microbes are challenging us in ways we wouldn't have imagined 10 years ago and for which we're not prepared," said Dr. James Hughes, director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bacteria and viruses multiply quickly, and can therefore evolve rapidly into more aggressive strains. While Osterholm said it is impossible to predict what will be "the next HIV," another deadly microbe is inevitable. Likewise, Hughes said it is only a matter of time until another deadly flu epidemic hits the world. Infectious diseases are the world's No. 1 killer, claiming 13 million lives annually. The deadly microbes appearing in the last quarter-century include: Legionnaires' disease, toxic shock syndrome, AIDS, rodent-borne hantaviruses, the airborne Ebola virus, Lyme disease, a fatal brain disease in England caught from eating "mad cows," West Nile encephalitis in the New York City area and new, drug-resistant tuberculosis strains in many cities. The experts cite numerous factors for the emergence and re-emergence of deadly germs, including: Increased international travel and shipment of food. Unprecedented population growth cramming people together in unsanitary conditions. Changes in how food is grown and handled. Decaying public health infrastructure in many areas. More people living with immune systems suppressed by AIDS, cancer, diabetes and organ transplants. Increased use of antibiotics in people and livestock, which contributes to germs' growing resistance to antibiotics. Potentially deadly staph infections are becoming resistant to even the antibiotic of last choice. Previous | Next Picture: Andy Wong/Associated Press | Copyright � 2000 Discovery Communications Inc. Headlines from Discovery.com News Skull Depicts Early Man's Kin Universe Will Not End in 'Big Crunch'Headlines from Discovery.com News Next Shuttle Launch Try Mid-May Researchers Quadruple Beetle Legs U.S. Starts West Nile Virus Prevention Report: Malaria Keeps Africa Poor CDC Explore our two-week archive. � Stargazing Check out our telescopes and accessories. Associated Press, Copyright 2000 April 27, 2000 � Four reported outbreaks of unusual infections around the world have illustrated the surprising potential of new microbes to emerge and old ones to return with a vengeance. "On a good day, we hold them at bay. On a bad day, they're winning," said Dr. Michael Osterholm of ican Inc. of Eden Prairie, Minn., an Internet information company focusing on infectious diseases. Osterholm, who was Minnesota's state epidemiologist for 24 years, wrote an editorial on emerging infections in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, which carried reports on the four outbreaks. The cases include a Nebraska farm boy who caught drug-resistant salmonella from infected cows that apparently had been given antibiotics; Malaysian pig farmers killed by microbes caught from their animals; and hundreds of Italian schoolchildren sickened by bacteria-contaminated cold corn salad. Finally, a diabetic Atlanta boy needed bowel surgery twice for a severe bacterial infection after eating a holiday chitterlings feast. "The microbes are challenging us in ways we wouldn't have imagined 10 years ago and for which we're not prepared," said Dr. James Hughes, director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bacteria and viruses multiply quickly, and can therefore evolve rapidly into more aggressive strains. While Osterholm said it is impossible to predict what will be "the next HIV," another deadly microbe is inevitable. Likewise, Hughes said it is only a matter of time until another deadly flu epidemic hits the world. Infectious diseases are the world's No. 1 killer, claiming 13 million lives annually. The deadly microbes appearing in the last quarter-century include: Legionnaires' disease, toxic shock syndrome, AIDS, rodent-borne hantaviruses, the airborne Ebola virus, Lyme disease, a fatal brain disease in England caught from eating "mad cows," West Nile encephalitis in the New York City area and new, drug-resistant tuberculosis strains in many cities. The experts cite numerous factors for the emergence and re-emergence of deadly germs, including: Increased international travel and shipment of food. Unprecedented population growth cramming people together in unsanitary conditions. Changes in how food is grown and handled. Decaying public health infrastructure in many areas. More people living with immune systems suppressed by AIDS, cancer, diabetes and organ transplants. Increased use of antibiotics in people and livestock, which contributes to germs' growing resistance to antibiotics. Potentially deadly staph infections are becoming resistant to even the antibiotic of last choice. Previous | Next Picture: Andy Wong/Associated Press | Copyright � 2000 Discovery Communications Inc. Headlines from Discovery.com News Skull Depicts Early Man's Kin Universe Will Not End in 'Big Crunch'Headlines from Discovery.com News Next Shuttle Launch Try Mid-May Researchers Quadruple Beetle Legs U.S. Starts West Nile Virus Prevention Report: Malaria Keeps Africa Poor CDC Explore our two-week archive. � Stargazing Check out our telescopes and accessories. Outbreak in Malaysia New, Stronger Infectious Diseases Threaten World Associated Press, Copyright 2000 April 27, 2000 � Four reported outbreaks of unusual infections around the world have illustrated the surprising potential of new microbes to emerge and old ones to return with a vengeance. "On a good day, we hold them at bay. On a bad day, they're winning," said Dr. Michael Osterholm of ican Inc. of Eden Prairie, Minn., an Internet information company focusing on infectious diseases. Osterholm, who was Minnesota's state epidemiologist for 24 years, wrote an editorial on emerging infections in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, which carried reports on the four outbreaks. The cases include a Nebraska farm boy who caught drug-resistant salmonella from infected cows that apparently had been given antibiotics; Malaysian pig farmers killed by microbes caught from their animals; and hundreds of Italian schoolchildren sickened by bacteria-contaminated cold corn salad. Finally, a diabetic Atlanta boy needed bowel surgery twice for a severe bacterial infection after eating a holiday chitterlings feast. "The microbes are challenging us in ways we wouldn't have imagined 10 years ago and for which we're not prepared," said Dr. James Hughes, director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bacteria and viruses multiply quickly, and can therefore evolve rapidly into more aggressive strains. While Osterholm said it is impossible to predict what will be "the next HIV," another deadly microbe is inevitable. Likewise, Hughes said it is only a matter of time until another deadly flu epidemic hits the world. Infectious diseases are the world's No. 1 killer, claiming 13 million lives annually. The deadly microbes appearing in the last quarter-century include: Legionnaires' disease, toxic shock syndrome, AIDS, rodent-borne hantaviruses, the airborne Ebola virus, Lyme disease, a fatal brain disease in England caught from eating "mad cows," West Nile encephalitis in the New York City area and new, drug-resistant tuberculosis strains in many cities. The experts cite numerous factors for the emergence and re-emergence of deadly germs, including: Increased international travel and shipment of food. Unprecedented population growth cramming people together in unsanitary conditions. Changes in how food is grown and handled. Decaying public health infrastructure in many areas. More people living with immune systems suppressed by AIDS, cancer, diabetes and organ transplants. Increased use of antibiotics in people and livestock, which contributes to germs' growing resistance to antibiotics. Potentially deadly staph infections are becoming resistant to even the antibiotic of last choice. Previous | Next Picture: Andy Wong/Associated Press | Copyright � 2000 Discovery Communications Inc. Headlines from Discovery.com News Skull Depicts Early Man's Kin Universe Will Not End in 'Big Crunch'Headlines from Discovery.com News Next Shuttle Launch Try Mid-May Researchers Quadruple Beetle Legs U.S. Starts West Nile Virus Prevention Report: Malaria Keeps Africa Poor CDC Explore our two-week archive. � Stargazing Check out our telescopes and accessories. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html <A HREF="http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
