The number of animal diseases affecting humans is set to escalate as the world undergoes a new epidemiological transition, say researchers this month in BioScience. Experts say that “dramatic” changes to the environment have sparked lasting alterations to human disease patterns.

“We appear to be undergoing a distinct change in global disease ecology,” write Montira Pongsiri, of the US Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC, and colleagues. “The recent emergence of infectious diseases appears to be driven by globalization and ecological disruption.”

Read more … (Emerging Health Threats Forum)