20 Feb 2006
Animal Diseases Jumping to Humans

You've gotta wonder what kind of impact the massive [over]use of antibiotics in both animals and humans has had on this "jump-over" effect. On the other hand, as the article points out, we are living in a warmer, more crowded world now, with more extensive travel than ever before.

But whatever the cause, this doesn't bode well for pandemic avoidance.

Experts say the number of pathogens from the animal kingdom infecting people seems to be on the rise -- 38 have morphed to human versions over the past 25 years, HIV and SARS among them.

(link) [Wired News: Top Stories]

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