We Are No Longer Islands

At one time you could safely say that we will rarely see certain diseases in our country because it only occurs in Africa or Europe. Transportation of people from one continent to another took a long time and was very expensive. Now that has changed. You can go from one continent to another in less than 6 hours at a very reasonable price.

We have become a well connected world. What happens in Africa or Europe or Australia has an impact on everyone. The good side to this connected world is that we have more opportunities to help and learn about each other. If a small town in the United States has an outbreak of a new disease everyone in the world has the opportunity to hear about. The internet has increased our ability to exchange information.

The down side to this connected world is that diseases we have never heard of before can now show up at our doorstep at anytime. A recent example of this spread of disease from one land to another was all over the news this past week (9/1-9/10/99). An outbreak of a viral disease called Nile River fever has been reported in New York State (United States). This viral infection has never been reported in the U.S. It has claimed the lives of 5 different people and causes an infection of the brain (encephalitis). Most people do not have major problems if infected. This virus is most deadly to the elderly, the very young, and people who are immunocompromised (chemotherapy patients, AIDS patients, etc.).

For more information on this virus go to the Centers for Disease Control's webpage. The news stories can be read at ABCNEWS.com.

Not only do we have opportunities in a connected world but we have some serious concerns. These concerns should not stop all the good derived from this connected world. To deal with the concerns we must however, be vigilant. Health care providers and governmental agencies must be prepared and given the resources to respond to these new challenges. For instance we must continue funding the Centers for Disease Control in the United States to maintain this vigil. I guess I will step down from my soapbox now and hope you:

Take Care and Think Microbiologically!

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