Section 3: Historical Epidemics and Pandemics of Note

Objectives

1. Describe the covered diseases in the context of their zoonotic origins and opportunities for response and control

In this section, we’ll briefly cover some past zoonotic epidemics and pandemics. This should give some historical perspective to the current outbreak and provide some guidance on what may have worked or not worked previously in the responses.

Coronaviruses

This is a short accessible piece drawing the connection between SARS, MERS, and COVID-19.

Center for Animal Health and Food Safety

Ebola

Here is a short piece on hunting for the zoonotic origins of the Ebola epidemic in Africa.

Tufts

Influenza

Before COVID-19, zoonotic influenza was widely regarded as being the most likely virus pathogen to cause the next pandemic. The following is a variety of succinct resources that will give a comprehensive view of the topic.

This is a slide presentation review of zoonotic influenza, including the history of outbreaks in recent history.

Zoonotic Influenza .pptx

The following articles are also reviews on zoonotic influenza and go a bit more in depth, for those that are interested.

Here is a highly recommended review of the recent influenza pandemics, including insight into the responses which you may find relevant for thinking about COVID-2019 responses

Reviewing the History of Pandemic Influenza Understanding Emergence and Transmission.pdf

This article in the link is a short review on the types of potential zoonotic influenza and prevention.

Animal influenza virus infections in humans.pdf

Here is another review on zoonotic Influenza A which goes some more in depth on mechanisms.

Zoonotic Potential of Influenza A Viruses.pdf

Plague

Here is a brief review of the history of plague and current prospects.

Plague Overview.pdf

And the following is a description of the epidemiology of plague in the United States

Epidemiology Plague US.pdf

Special Section: Bioterrorism

Many zoonotic diseases have the potential to spread rapidly through a population and cause high levels of morbidity and mortality. Attached is a lecture given by Dr. Auguste Brihn on the potential zoonotic agents of bioterrorism

Bioterrorism lecture.pdf

Special Section: Transboundary Animal Diseases

When we think of pandemic, it is often placed into the context of the affect on the human population. But many diseases can cause devastating pandemics in animal populations, with severe ramifications on trade, agriculture production, and potential wildlife impacts. Some of these transboundary animal diseases (TADs) also have zoonotic potential.

For example, and African swine fever outbreak in China that has been ongoing since August 2018 is estimated to have resulted in the death of half of the swine breeding population in the country. In addition to many countries restricting trade with China due to the risk of inadvertently importing contaminated products, the loss of that many animals begins to become a food security issue. Some of these TADs also have zoonotic potential.

Follow the link to the below to the Food And Agriculture Organization (FAO) website, read the one pager on TADs, and explore some of the disease links.

FAO

Here is a link to the list of reportable diseases for veterinarians in Minnesota. Some are transboundary animal diseases. Which of the reportable diseases are zoonotic?

Minnesota Board of Animal Health

In 2014-2015, there was an outbreak of unprecedented scale of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States. A link is provided below to a one page article summarizing some the zoonotic monitoring of the outbreak in Minnesota. Also included is the USDA final report on the response (only for brief skimming) to show the impacts of these outbreaks and the massive response efforts needed.

SPOTLIGHT: Responding to Emerging Issues – HPAI Outbreak

USDA 2015-hpai-final-report.pdf