Akebe Luther King Abia – författare

Pandemics are often associated with viruses and bacteria occurring in wildlife in natural environments. Thus, diseases of epidemic and pandemic scale are mostly zoonotic, some of which include AIDS, Zika virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and COVID-19. The book seeks to explore the documented history of pandemics and various epidemics that have the potential of turning into pandemics with the warming climate, pollution, and environmental destruction.

The book covers some of the most essential elements of the diseases of pandemic nature and their relationship with the environment:

There are cases where scientists fear that many epidemics have the potential of turning into pandemics, if we do not pay attention to them, and measures are not being taken to control these occurrences. This book attempts to provide integrated risk assessment on pandemics like COVID-19. It covers fundamental factors of global disease outbreaks through the complexity and severity of consequences. The information collated in this book will help in the design of mitigation measures, including behavioral changes that could prevent the emergence of such pandemics, thus protecting human life and minimising losses incurred due to diseases of such magnitude.

Pandemics are often associated with viruses and bacteria occurring in wildlife in natural environments. Thus, diseases of epidemic and pandemic scale are mostly zoonotic, some of which include AIDS, Zika virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and COVID-19. The book seeks to explore the documented history of pandemics and various epidemics that have the potential of turning into pandemics with the warming climate, pollution, and environmental destruction.

The book covers some of the most essential elements of the diseases of pandemic nature and their relationship with the environment:

There are cases where scientists fear that many epidemics have the potential of turning into pandemics, if we do not pay attention to them, and measures are not being taken to control these occurrences. This book attempts to provide integrated risk assessment on pandemics like COVID-19. It covers fundamental factors of global disease outbreaks through the complexity and severity of consequences. The information collated in this book will help in the design of mitigation measures, including behavioral changes that could prevent the emergence of such pandemics, thus protecting human life and minimising losses incurred due to diseases of such magnitude.

Antimicrobial resistance is recognised among the world’s most challenging problems. Despite its global spread, Africa, specifically sub-Saharan Africa, is the most affected by this malaise. Poor living conditions and inadequate access to sanitation and potable water supplies are among contributing factors that have influenced a high disease burden on the continent, requiring extensive antimicrobials. Weak health systems and the absence of firm policies further aggravate the problem, as the use of antimicrobials is mostly unregulated. The increasing demand for animal protein to meet the starving populations’ demands has also influenced the use of these antimicrobials, including those banned on other continents, for food animal production. The ripple effect of indiscriminate use in humans and animals is the massive discharge of antimicrobials, their residues, antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms and their associated genes into the environment. 

This 14-chapter unique masterpiece presents the AMR problem in African, addressing the various compartments of the One Health – humans, animals, and the environment, to illustrate the need for concerted efforts in the fight against AMR, especially in Africa. Authors from the four cardinal points present diverse aspects of AMR in Africa, starting with behavioural and social drivers of AMR in Africa. Antimicrobial stewardship in an African context is also discussed. AMR in humans is presented through studies on antibiotic-resistant neonates and nontyphoidal Salmonella infections and the clinical relevance of the genetics of viral resistance. Topics on AMR in mastitis, biosecurity in animal farming and the linkage between disinfectants and AMR are discussed. The environmental dimension of AMR is discussed, notably in the aquatic environment, and its implication for aquaculture and irrigation and using nanomaterials to treat polluted waters from such environments are highlighted. Finally, Africa’s rich floral diversity is portrayed as an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach to combat AMR. Hopefully, the work presented will spur greater collaboration between scientists, environmental, animal and human health practitioners, the general population, and policymakers to assimilate and implement the One Health approach to combating AMR, rather than working in silos on their various sectors