Definition & Overview

  • Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs): Diseases that have recently increased in incidence, geographic range, or threaten to increase soon.
  • Analogy: Think of EIDs like “pop-up ads” on the internet—unexpected, disruptive, and sometimes spreading rapidly before you can react.

Causes & Drivers

Cause/Driver Analogy/Example
Zoonotic spillover Like a “leak” from animal reservoirs to humans (e.g., Ebola from bats)
Globalization Diseases travel like international packages—fast and far
Urbanization Crowded cities act like “amplifiers” for transmission
Climate change Warmer climates = new “habitats” for vectors (e.g., mosquitoes)
Antimicrobial resistance Pathogens “outsmarting” our medicines, like hackers bypassing antivirus

Real-World Examples

1. COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)

  • Originated in late 2019, Wuhan, China.
  • Rapid global spread due to air travel and urban density.
  • Example of zoonotic spillover (likely from bats).

2. Zika Virus

  • Spread by Aedes mosquitoes.
  • Outbreak in Brazil (2015-2016): Linked to birth defects (microcephaly).
  • Climate change expanded mosquito habitats.

3. Candida auris

  • Drug-resistant fungus first identified in 2009, now global.
  • Hospital outbreaks due to surface persistence.
  • Analogy: Like a “superbug” that survives standard cleaning.

Artificial Intelligence in EIDs

  • Drug Discovery: AI algorithms analyze molecular structures and predict potential drugs faster than traditional methods.
  • Material Science: AI helps design new antimicrobial surfaces for hospitals.
  • Example: In 2020, BenevolentAI identified baricitinib as a potential COVID-19 treatment using machine learning (Richardson et al., The Lancet, 2020).
  • Analogy: AI is like a “detective” sifting through millions of clues to find the right suspect (drug candidate).

Common Misconceptions

Misconception Correction
“EIDs only affect poor countries.” EIDs can emerge anywhere (e.g., COVID-19).
“Antibiotics cure all infections.” Only bacterial infections, not viruses.
“Vaccines cause EIDs.” Vaccines prevent, not cause, infectious diseases.
“EIDs always come from animals.” Many do, but some arise from environmental changes or mutations.

Case Studies

1. COVID-19 Response

  • AI in Action: DeepMind’s AlphaFold predicted protein structures, aiding vaccine design.
  • Global Impact: Over 600 million cases worldwide by 2022.
  • Memory Trick: “C” for COVID, “C” for Crowded cities, “C” for Computers (AI).

2. Ebola Outbreaks (West Africa, 2014-2016)

  • Transmission: Human-to-human via bodily fluids.
  • Containment: Contact tracing and community education.
  • Real-World Analogy: Like a wildfire—spreads fast, needs rapid response.

3. Nipah Virus (India, 2018)

  • Origin: Fruit bats to humans via contaminated fruit.
  • Containment: Quarantine, public awareness, and surveillance.
  • Lesson: Importance of “One Health” approach (human, animal, environment).

Memory Trick

  • Mnemonic: “G-ZAC”
    • Globalization
    • Zoonosis
    • Antimicrobial resistance
    • Climate change
  • Imagine a “Giant Zebra And Cat” running through a city, each representing a driver of EIDs.

Ethical Issues

  • Data Privacy: AI-driven surveillance must protect patient confidentiality.
  • Resource Allocation: Who gets access to new drugs/vaccines first?
  • Equity: Ensuring low-income countries are not left behind.
  • Dual Use: Research on pathogens can be misused (bioterrorism).
  • Informed Consent: Use of patient data for AI models requires transparency.

Recent Research & News

  • Citation:

    • Richardson, P., et al. (2020). Baricitinib as potential treatment for 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease. The Lancet, 395(10223), e30-e31.
      • AI identified existing drugs for repurposing against COVID-19, speeding up clinical trials and treatment options.

  • News Example:

    • “AI helps scientists discover new antibiotics to fight superbugs” – BBC News, Feb 2020.
      • AI models found halicin, a new antibiotic effective against resistant bacteria.

Summary Table

Key Point Example/Analogy
EIDs are unpredictable Pop-up ads on the internet
AI accelerates solutions Detective solving cases
Ethical dilemmas Who gets the “first slice” of cake?
Memory Trick G-ZAC mnemonic

Quick Revision Questions

  1. What are the main drivers of EIDs?
  2. How does AI contribute to combating EIDs?
  3. Name two ethical concerns in EID response.
  4. Give a real-world example of zoonotic spillover.
  5. What is a common misconception about antibiotics?

Key Takeaways

  • EIDs are shaped by complex, interconnected global factors.
  • AI is revolutionizing detection, treatment, and prevention.
  • Ethical considerations are essential for fair and safe responses.
  • Case studies highlight the importance of rapid, coordinated action.
  • Mnemonics and analogies aid memory and understanding.

End of Revision Sheet