Species-jumping diseases threat highlighted

The threat of diseases that are able to jump from one species to another has been noted in a new report.

Experts at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and National Research Council revealed that there are major weaknesses in the global health community's ability to cope with new species-crossing microbes.

This research has been triggered by the onset of the H1N1 influenza virus pandemic, which has affected people around the world.

The IOM has outlined a new worldwide plan for coordinating efforts to nullify zoonotic diseases, which calls for more integration between human and veterinary health sectors.

Committee co-chair Gerald T Keusch said that now is the time to act on this problem.

He commented: "Developing an effective global system for detecting and responding to emerging zoonotic diseases is a tall order.

"However, given the political will and financial resources that have been marshalled time and again to respond to the individual 'disease du jour' as each has arisen, we believe it is possible to implement a sustainable, integrated human and veterinary disease surveillance system that is acceptable to all stakeholders."

The report also called for more cooperation between USAID and other international health agencies.

News brought to you by Global Health TV, connecting health communities