Emerging Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi; the diseases can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another. Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases of animals that can cause disease when transmitted to humans.

Treatment Antibiotics Antivirals Antifungals Anti-parasitics Statistics: Socioeconomic, environmental and behavioural factors, as well as international travel and migration, foster and increase the spread of communicable diseases. Vaccine-preventable, foodborne, zoonotic, health care-related and communicable diseases pose significant threats to human health and may sometimes threaten international health security. In cooperation with governments, WHO/Europe develops norms and standards, guidance and public health tools to help countries implement effective disease prevention and control programmes and address their risk factors.

Major research WHO best practices for naming of new human infectious diseases Best practices for the naming of new human diseases, with the aim to minimize unnecessary negative impact of disease names on trade, travel, tourism or animal welfare, and avoid causing offence to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic groups.