[ArticleImageHyperLink] More viruses are being linked to zoonotic origins Friday, May 29, 2009 By Thalia Armijo/Staff Reporter Advertising Once the psychosis of a pandemic virus arrived to one of the most populated countries in Central America many were concerned of the country’s health state.     Mexico feared a terrifying virus that was not only expanding in the country but also outside Mexican territories. New infectious diseases such as the swine flu and others including the Ebola Virus, SARS and H5N1 bird flu have endangered the human population.     According to scientists some of the viruses come from mammals, especially wild animals and are likely to appear in tropical countries, in this case the latest spread was in Mexico.     Studies have found that during the last decade a series of advanced viruses have turned into epidemics and have spread from animals to humans.     These viruses known as zoonotic viruses can not only mutate from an animal to human but also, once it’s in the human system it can transmit between humans.     The viruses mutate rapidly and multiply at a fast pace. The problem is that for some of these viruses, there are no effective vaccines. The latest outbreak was the H1N1 swine influenza that was transmitted from pigs to humans, the virus spread to people who were in close contact with the infected pigs.     In this case transmission also occurred from human to human. Although they have vaccines to prevent pigs from the swine influenza, they have yet to find a vaccine to protect humans; the only way it can be treated is with antiviral drugs.     People can become easily infected with zoonotic diseases through the contact of infected livestock and pets. Researchers have found that one of the principal causes of these animal diseases is environmental changes and the terminal changes of human activity in their habitats.     If the conditions worsen, it has serious economic and social health impacts, such as the outbreak of SARS in 2002 in China. Although the origin’s disease hasn’t been confirmed, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was linked to the exposure of infected animal meat sold in markets in China.     According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 8,098 people became infected with SARS, which was accompanied by severe respiratory problems and pneumonia, of which 774 died.     Global trade of animal products and the livestock congestion of farms are also a cause, by feeding animals hormones and antibiotics leading to mutations that have become zoonotic diseases.        WHO considered Ebola virus, since it emerged in 1976 in Zaire, a very lethal disease. Reports showed a 50% to 90% fatality rate on the victims.     These zoonoses, which involve all types of parasites, bacteria and viruses, apparently the Ebola virus was also transmitted to humans who were in contact with an infected animal host.     Public health and animal authorities have come up with a series of recommendations to monitor and prevent future zoonoses, by encouraging countries where livestock agriculture is a central industry to preserve animal health infrastructure and apply proper sanitary measures.     International organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health are implementing systems of early warning and alert systems on animal health events, as well as, keeping records on animals and human health at national levels and regional levels to facilitate the search and the control of zoonosis.

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