Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in the last 40 years

Abstract

Scientific advances have made it possible to classify numerous infectious diseases as emerging and re-emerging, making it possible to establish the underlying causes of their emergence and to recommend optimal methods of prevention and control. Multiple factors interact creating opportunities for infectious agents to evolve in new ecological niches, adapt to new reservoirs and spread more easily, including to humans. In this perspective, managing the vision of “one health”, we intend in this brief review, to understand the objectives of this emergingreemerging classification, to identify the elements that induce its presence, exemplifying the dynamics of some of these infections that have shaken international and national health institutions. We paid tribute to the distinguished Honduran Dr. Antonio Vidal Mayorga, whose name bears our Institute of Infectious Diseases and Parasitology, which this year celebrates thirty years of performing scientific research and academic functions for the health of Hondurans.