Infectious Diseases 2

Now, a century later, we have flu vaccines that have reduced the severity(严重)  of epidemics.

These vaccines need to be updated every year because the virus changes and new strains emerge.

What researchers fears is that the new strain of the virus develop and cause another pandemic.

Once an outbreak occurs, transmission of the disease will be even  faster than before.

An unintended consequence of our improved transportation system will be the speed at which an epidemic can spread.

Experts predict that public health systems will be overwhelmed and unable to react quickly enough.

A new strain of virus is ...a mutated form of the virus.

What is an unintended consequence of improved transportation system?

.....It allows epidemics to spread more quickly.

So the best defense will be to prevent an outbreak from occurring.

This will require global cooperation and sharing of data.

It may also require changes in how humans interact with animals.

Animals, such as birds and pigs, carry viruses that may mutate(变异) into a strain that can infect humans.

Such a new strain could lead to another pandemic well before a new vaccine could be developed.

Since diseases and epidemics don't stop at national borders, this is a global issue requiring global action.

One danger is that an animal virus....may mutate into a strain that can infect humans.

It may also require changes and how humans interact(交流) with animals.

A new strain of virus is one that is mutated from the original.

An improved transportation system allows epidemics to spread more quickly.