Emerging Infectious Diseases
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) have either been newly introduced to a population or have rapidly expanded in their existing geographic range. EIDs are caused by pathogens that may cause animals to show symptoms of infection, or they could be asymptomatic carriers. The rise of EIDs in wildlife poses a significant threat to global biodiversity, leading to population decline and destabilized ecosystems. Conditions that have contributed to the spread of these diseases include environmental factors (e.g., climate change, habitat loss, or poor sanitation), host-related factors (e.g., susceptibility, immunity, behavior), and pathogen-related factors (e.g., evolution, efficient transmission, drug resistance). The challenges of managing emerging infectious diseases have been documented throughout the years. However, we can play a role in protecting these species.